Colorado Whitewater Rafting in Buena Vista
A Legacy of Colorado Rafting Excellence Since 1976
Half a century on the water, thousands of five-star trips, and guides so good guests request them by name. See why families, first-timers, and experienced rafters keep coming back to Wilderness Aware Rafting.
WHY WILDERNESS AWARE RAFTING
Popular Buena Vista , CO whitewater rafting trips & beyond
Wilderness Aware has been guiding the Arkansas River since 1976 — one of the longest-running outfitters in Colorado — and is the only company permitted to run every raftable section, from the family-friendly Milk Run to the Class V Royal Gorge. Our guides are the biggest reason guests return year after year: knowledgeable, personable, and skilled enough that many guests request the same guide trip after trip. Whether you’re rafting Colorado for the first time or you’ve been coming back for decades, Wilderness Aware offers Buena Vista white water rafting experiences across five rivers in Colorado and Arizona to match every ability, group size, and appetite for adventure.
Enjoy Class III-IV rapids through Browns Canyon National Monument — Colorado's most popular rafting destination and a certified International Dark Sky Park. Perfect for families, first-timers, and anyone who wants a full day of adventure on the Arkansas River.
- 5-Star Rating on TripAdvisor
- Convenient Riverfront Location – Less Shuttle Time
- Free River Gear
- Free Lunch on Full-Day Trips
- Professional Photos Taken on Every Trip
- 50 Years Guiding Colorado’s Best Rivers
Our most advanced white water trip
- Ages 14+
- Half-Day & Full-Day Options
- Buena Vista, CO
ADVANCED WHITE WATER, ICONIC SCENERY
- Ages 14+
- Full-Day Options
- Canon City, CO
BEGINNER AND FAMILY TRIPS
- Ages 4+
- Half-Day and Quarter-Day Options
- Buena Vista, CO
EXPERIENCE THE BEST RAFTING IN COLORADO
Buena Vista white water rafting
Season Runs May 1 – Labor Day: Arkansas River rafting trips depart daily from our riverside base near Buena Vista — just a 10-minute shuttle to the put-in, more time where it counts. Book early; peak summer dates fill fast.
Guides Who Make the Difference: WA’s guides are the most consistent reason guests return year after year — skilled, funny, knowledgeable about the river and the surrounding area, and patient with everyone from nervous first-timers to multi-trip veterans. Many guests request the same guide every visit.
We Handle Everything: From gear fitting and safety orientation to shuttle logistics and riverside lunch on full-day trips, every detail is managed so you show up ready to enjoy the river. Bring sunscreen. We’ll handle the rest.
More ARIZONA & COLORADO RAFTING TRIPS
The Arkansas River near Buena Vista is the most commercially rafted river in the United States — and for good reason. Browns Canyon rafting is our most popular trip, ideal for families and first-timers. The Numbers delivers continuous Class IV whitewater for guests ready to work. The Royal Gorge offers the most dramatic scenery and intensity on the river. And for kids as young as 4, the Milk Run and Lower Browns Canyon are the ideal introduction. Beyond Colorado, Salt River rafting in Arizona offers a completely different desert canyon experience worth the trip.
WHY COLORADO RAFTING
PREMIER
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
RAFTING
AT A GLANCE
A TRIP FOR EVERY GROUP: Multi-generational families, bachelor parties, corporate teams, nervous first-timers, and 30-year repeat guests all find their perfect trip with Wilderness Aware. From ages 4 to 80+, from Class I floats to Class V canyon runs — there's a section of river built for exactly your group.
SCENERY THAT STOPS YOU MID-PADDLE: Browns Canyon National Monument's granite canyon walls, bighorn sheep on the cliffs, the occasional bear or golden eagle sighting — guests come for the rapids and stay for the landscape. This is protected wilderness that most people only ever see from a highway.
SEASON RUNS MAY THROUGH LABOR DAY: Early season brings peak snowmelt flows and the biggest rapids of the year. Midsummer settles into the sweet spot — warm air, excellent water levels, and long Colorado days. Late season offers warmer water and a more technical, exploratory experience. Every month has something worth showing up for.
PREPARE FOR YOUR TRIP
Everything you need before you hit the river — in one place. Sign your waiver online before you arrive, download packing lists so nothing gets forgotten, check departure directions for your specific trip, and browse river maps to get familiar with the water you’ll be on. The more prepared you are, the more fun you’ll have.
SPOTS ARE FILLING FAST!
BOOK YOUR TRIP NOW
Choose from a variety of Colorado rivers, day trips, and multi-day trips to find just the right option for you and your crew. Better hustle, because they’re booking up quick!
Browse Rafting Trips by Departure Location
Use this interactive map to see all our rafting departure locations. Click a yellow pin to learn more about the rivers, trip types, and experiences Wilderness Aware offers.
ABOUT
WILDERNESS
AWARE
RAFTING
ABOUT WILDERNESS AWARE RAFTING
Wilderness Aware has been guiding rivers in Colorado since 1976 — and in that time we’ve rafted with families who return year after year, Boy Scout troops on 5-day expeditions, couples celebrating anniversaries, and first-timers who arrived nervous and left planning their next trip. Safety is our highest priority on the river. Our guides are the biggest reason guests come back, and we’re proud that after 50 years, the most common thing guests say is that their guide made the experience.
We operate out of Buena Vista, Colorado, in the heart of the Rockies — surrounded by the highest concentration of 14,000-foot peaks in the state, gold medal trout water, and the most commercially rafted river in the United States. Five of the seven rivers we raft run through designated wilderness areas. This is public land we feel privileged to share, and we take that responsibility seriously every trip, every season.
