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COLORADO & BUENA VISTA WHITE WATER RAFTING
Colorado white water rafting since 1976
Popular Buena Vista white water rafting trips and beyond
Wilderness Aware is the premier Colorado and Buena Vista white water rafting outfitter since 1976. Known for providing thrilling river rafting experiences on five different rivers throughout the state. With 47+ years of expertise in river rafting Colorado and extensive knowledge of the area’s waterways, Wilderness Aware has become a trusted provider of unforgettable rafting trips. Whether you’re a seasoned rafter or a first-time adventurer, Wilderness Aware offers a range of options for Colorado white water rafting. Join us for an experience of a lifetime and discover the beauty and excitement of Colorado and Buena Vista white water rafting.
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overnight trips
Arkansas River – 2, 3 and 5 Day Trips
Half & Full Day Trips
Arkansas River: browns canyon – numbers – royal gorge
Family Trips
Arkansas River Milk Run Float Trip
One of the best times of my life!
Dylnn R.
explore our arkansas river rafting trips
Buena Vista Rafting is made possible thanks to the magnificent Arkansas River which boasts four distinct rafting sections, each offering a unique and thrilling experience. The Browns Canyon rafting section is the most popular among them, strikes the perfect balance of challenge and forgiveness, catering to both experienced rafters and first-timers alike. The Numbers rafting section promises a highly technical and steep adventure, attracting thrill-seekers looking for an action-packed challenge. For a spectacle of nature’s grandeur, the Arkansas River’s Royal Gorge section impresses with its towering canyon walls and big, powerful rapids, making it an unforgettable journey. The Narrows section enchants with its secluded beauty, as non-stop exciting whitewater takes rafters through a mesmerizing landscape of cottonwood trees and the imposing Collegiate Peaks in the distance. Whether you choose Browns Canyon white water rafting or another Arkansas River rafting section, you will find that Buena Vista white water rafting offers its own captivating allure for an unforgettable rafting experience!
browns canyon
challenging yet forgiving
The Browns Canyon Rafting section of the Arkansas River is the most popular whitewater section in the U.S., because it is challenging enough for experienced rafters, yet forgiving enough for first-timers.
numbers
technical and steep
The Numbers section of the Arkansas River is steep and rocky, making it very technical and challenging. This section of Arkansas River whitewater is for those looking for an action-packed, highly challenging adventure.
royal gorge
big and powerful
The Royal Gorge is one of the most spectacular stretches of the Arkansas River, known not only for its sheer, steep canyon walls, but also for its big, powerful, technical rapids.
narrows
beautiful and secluded
The Narrows offers non-stop exciting whitewater through a beautifully secluded section of the Arkansas River. Large cottonwood trees line the river, where the stunning 14,000 peaks of the Collegiate Peaks dominate the horizon.
Google Reviews
Though our guide did a great job, I could not be more disappointed with the overall value of the experience we received. Their trip that is advertised as half day does not even last an hour and 15 minutes. We booked the full day and had car trouble on the way up and only got there for the afternoon, but none of their cancellation insurance policies would have made any difference because they only work if you cancel at 72 hours notice. They didn't even give us or refund us for the food included in the full day trip. If you are planning a trip with this group read the fine print on what the actual cost is and how the cancellation policies actually work.
We did a full day trip in Browns Canyon. Gato, our guide, was beyond wonderful. Not only truly adept at guiding the raft, she was a veritable naturalist and even an impressive prep cook! I really appreciated how she engaged with our kids and made it a special trip for everyone. We were really impressed with the warmth and professionalism of everyone we encountered with Wilderness Aware. Thanks for a wonderful family memory; we'll be back!
My son and I did a half day in Browns Canyon. It was an awesome trip. The views and river are amazing. Danny our guide was friendly and professional. The other guides Jelly and Sunny were both funny and made the trip enjoyable. I’d highly recommend spending an afternoon doing this.
We took the half day Brown Canyon trip led by Ryan. This was an awesome trip and perfect for our family - a bunch of fun but not too dangerous class three rapids! Wilderness Aware is a top notch company and Ryan was a great guide. He was personable, gave really clear directions and kept it fun. He also has a lot of “dad jokes” for such a young guy! We highly recommend this trip.
The whole experience was great. From check in, safety info and our guide Gunner, all excellent.
Went on a trip yesterday with Sunny and a fellow MA crew. It was storming so I was concerned about being able to have fun and complete the journey, but Sunny brought the sun with her personality and excellent job guiding us! It was so fun, seeing the storm ended up being a highlight, I highly recommend!
Great experience white water rafting late in the season. Sunny and Gunner were excellent guides and made us feel welcome and comfortable.
Water was low when I went with Snack the guide. The views were unreal with all the mountains and wilderness. Our guide was very sharp and entertaining which made the trip very enjoyable. He was also very factual so we could have plenty to remember. Definitely recommend and will be going again.
My wife and I were in the area on vacation on August 18, 2024 so we arranged a half day rafting excursion on the Arkansas River through Brown's Canyon National Monument. Our guide was fantastic. Everything about the registration and orientation process was seamless and easy. One of our first impressions was how clean the bathroom was. The river was relatively low this late in the season, so the whitewater was pretty limited. But the scenery was lovely and our guide extremely knowledgeable about what was ahead and what we needed to do in terms of paddling to get through some narrow rock passages. And our guide was so friendly. During the river's brief quiet periods, we thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. We departed and returned on time. Wilderness Aware Rafting is a first-class operation. (Another rafting company's raft got stuck on rocks twice that we saw, so it is not easy to guide a trip!) But, I would have preferred the river to be more exhilarating. Happy rafting!
We rafted the half day adventure with Gomez. While the water was a little low due to the lateness of the season, Gome kept the trip interesting guiding us through marrow passages and around rocks. Amother boat got hung up on rocks a few times. Not so with Gomez.! He pointed out places of interest along the river which was interesting. I would recommend rafting with this company and especially, Gomez.
An amazing day. Our guide Gunner did a spectacular job and the river and lunch was great!!
This was my fourth day trip with Wilderness Aware. As before, they do a great job from making the initial reservation, check in, the guides, the food and the river experience.All went very well.
Fun trip through Brown's Canyon, water was low so not too extreme, just right for us. Our guide Kat was knowledgeable and capable, she made our trip enjoyable and informative.
Gatlin was a great guide, strongly recommend. We had kids ages 8, 10, and 13 and did the full day trip through Brown’s Canyon. Amazing!
My sons and I rafted with Wilderness Aware twice down the Royal Gorge and once down the Numbers this past weekend on the Arkansas River. This was my 13th and 14th trips down the Gorge and I wouldn't want to do it with any other rafting company. Their attention to our safety is excellent. The current owner was our guide 20 years ago and now he owns the company, but he personally guided us on our first trip down the Gorge this year. My sons and I really enjoy the excitement these trips offer and I would recommend anyone who wants to experience this adventure should do it with Wilderness Aware Rafting.
The guides were so knowledgeable and the rental equipment was in great condition. I would recommend them to anyone! I definitely want to go back!
We did a full day trip through Browns Canyon with Danny in August. Danny’s knowledge of the river, local animals and Buena Vista was thoroughly enjoyed by our group and helped connect us to the river. The views were incredible, lunch was delicious and filling and the booking process was easy. Even in August we were able to hit some great rapids. We can’t wait for our next trip on the river!
Great service and excellent guides. Sunny was our guide and was above and beyond. Trip was perfect, well organized and everything went smoothly. Highly recommended.
The best rafting trip! Ask for Gunner! He is patient, friendly, and an expert!
Gunner was an excellent rafting guide. We rafted with Wilderness Aware three times and it was SO much fun all three times and different adventures too!
Our family did the Lower Browns Canyon 1/2 day trip. We have never rafted so we weren’t sure what to expect. To say we had an awesome experience is an UNDERSTATEMENT! Booking and check in were simple. The people in the office were friendly and the facilities were clean. They do a safety talk before you leave and make sure to explain everything in detail. After arriving at the boat launch your guide will review basic commands for the river and off you go! The river is beautiful and the scenery doesn’t seem real! Our guide was “Snack”. We highly recommend you request him when booking. He was very professional and knowledgeable about all aspects of the river and surrounding areas. We enjoyed some great conversation and even better story telling from Snack while on the river. If you’re questioning whether you should schedule a trip or not, be like Nike and Just Do It!! Snack, if you see this, and find my GoPro, hit me up!!
Great trip, Ashley was a great guide. Would highly recommend WAR to anyone looking for a great experience.
Very well organized, good equipment, clean facilities and great guides. We've used WA 3 times now and have always had a great experience.
Such a great trip! Our guide was great. With the river lower, we got to see more of the rivers obstacles and work on technical maneuvering, which was really fun. Kids had a great time too!
It was absolutely the best thing we haver ever done in Colorado. Snack was an amazing guide who was very attentive to safety and made the raft ride extremely fun. Every single thing about this company is top notch.
5 stars! WA was amazing. Easy to book. We arrived just in the nick of time and they were so accommodating. Sunny and Gunnar were the guides for today and it couldn’t have gone any better. Sunny, specifically basically saved my wife’s life. Kinda. My wife took a swim and Sunny, with no hesitation, scooped her back in the boat. Calm, cool and collected. We have an amazing trip! Kudos
Had an awesome time rafting the Arkansas River! Our trip leader, Ashley, was very knowledgeable which made our experience great. The views were unreal. Highly recommend this trip!
Amazing time rafting different parts of the Arkansas River! We did the 4- day Inn to Inn trip and felt like VIP’s! 5-Stars all around from accommodations, food and fun! Our guide Ashlynn was a true professional! Enjoyed every minute !
Amazing time with Sunny! She was fun, patient, and delivered a delicious lunch. Cant wait to do it again!
A great all around experience with extremely fun and knowledgeable guides
Had a grand time! Family of four from the east coast out in Denver visiting my son. Booked a two day overnight rafting trip / camping trip. Ashley and Kira were our guides and we had an amazingTime with them!
Excellent ½ day trip down the Arkansas River. The guides were all excellent. Our guide, Kat, was amazing. I highly recommend!
We had the best time on our rafting trip with Snack!! He made the trip fun and had a lot of knowledge about the geography. His expertise was greatly appreciated and we will definitely use WA and Snack for our next rafting trip.
We did a half-day rafting trip in Browns Canyon, and this trip was awesome! The guides and staff were all very knowledgeable, friendly, encouraging and fun! They made sure we had everything we needed, and went the extra mile to ensure safety. We had a fantastic time, and we will definitely be back and will recommend Wilderness Aware to friends and family who want to go rafting. Special thank you to Nate, Gatlin, Jelly, and Grant! You guys are the best!
Wonderful time and a great guide. Great experience to bring visitors from out-of-state. Always a True Colorado adventure at Wilderness Aware Rafting!!
We did the Royal Gorge Full Day Rafting Trip with Gomez, and it was EPIC! We greased the rapids like pros. He was so fun, the lunch was a nice treat (and there were cookies), the water was perfect and we can't wait to go back next year for an overnight trip! 100/10 would recommend doing this trip with Gomez as your guide.
A wonderful experience. SNACK was our guide and he was very knowledgeable. He kept us laughing at his jokes. We can't wait to go again.
Nathan and Ryan were excellent guides. Highly recommend the experience.Brown's canyon full day run.
This was an awesome experience. The crew here treated us incredible and are very knowledgeable. Ryan is an awesome rafting guide and I would recommend this to anyone.
Amazing first time experience with Ryan! Will recommend to everyone I know!
Great Experience! Ash was amazing and so great with our family! Would definitely do it again!
We all had a great time on the river. Our guide Grant was amazing, making the entire experience even better.
Did the 3-day trip for a buddy’s bachelor party and it was an amazing experience. First time I’ve ever white water rafted and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Our guides Ash, Kira and Nate were fantastic and getting to know them over trip made it that much better. Would highly recommend booking trips with this company.
While the trip was fun, it was too short, only an hour. Felt we were short changed considering what we paid. We were booked for a full day. Serious car problems occurred preventing us from making morning session. We made an afternoon session. Still charged us for full day for what turned out to be a 1 hour trip. Some accommodation could have been offered. Won’t go back.
Wilderness Aware was incredible! Not only are they phenomenal raft guides, they also make you laugh, provide awesome facts about the beautiful nature around you and make you feel at home! Anna was incredible with her boat and you could tell with every rapid a loud cheer would arise from the raft. Snack had a full boat full of family fun and kept the whole group smiling. Nate was the bees knees making us laugh while also confidently leading us through the beautiful landscape noting the best fun facts. 13/10 recommend!
It's was a group of scouts and adults. Gomez Grant, Jelly and Anna were great tour guides. After being on the river with us they still made us lunch and dinner. The food was good also. I look forward to going back in a few years when my daughter turns 14.
We did a full day on the Browns Canyon with Gatlin as our guide . he could not have been more careful, polite, and skillful. It was a thrilling and wonderful experience.Juliette and Charles
We booked the 5 day Arkansas River trip for our Scout troop in December of 2023. We just got off the river and wanted to say that this is a top class company. From all the questions we had and dealing with Jody in the office to get everything booked along with all the questions that came up was always available to help us.During the trip we got the best guides! Gomez, Grant, Anna, and the world famous Jelly! Cannot thank these guides that helped our group of boys to have such an incredible experience! From helping us to raft, to preparing awesome food on the trip and listening to some pretty bad jokes and guiding us safely the full five days they did such an awesome job!!So glad we chose Wilderness Aware and would do it again in a heartbeat! Thank you!!!
Our group had an amazing experience at WA. The staff was very helpful with check in and getting set up with equipment. It was clear that safety was important from the briefing all the way through our rafting trip. Anna was a great guide- she was confident, knowledgeable and made sure we had a good time. Will definitely plan another adventure here!
Had a blast on our rafting adventure with Wilderness Aware. Staff was fun, caring, and well educated on safety. Facilities were easy to access and we loved having a kennel for our pups during our trip. Would highly recommend
Our guide Nate was pretty freaking cool. He was very kind and funny and made our trip better with the little facts and stories along the way. The views were just as good too. I will say this is not the same as the Ocoee in Tennessee, but just as fun. I cannot wait to go again.
It’s difficult to know which of the many Colorado rafting companies to choose. I’m leaving this review so you may factor it in to your decision.I chose Wilderness Aware only because after I rafted with 6 years ago I have received more advertising e-mails from them than I can count.Yesterday I rafted Big Horn/Royal Gorge with them. It will be the last time I raft with them.My guide managed one of the rapids so poorly that we crashed into the wall of the canyon hard enough to dislodge the rafters on the side that hit. I was one of them. Because my foot was in the footcup, my knee was wrenched as I fell to the center of the raft. Other rafters expressed concern - not the guide. Fellow rafters asked again at the end of the trip - not the guide.The “bump” as our guide called it was so significant that the guide from the lead raft who saw what happened immediately shouted back to our guide, “Good thing we brought the rubber boats today!” Later as we were getting in the van our guide could be heard admitting to the lead guide that he messed up that rapid.During our trip, conversation with our guide included how legally binding the liability waiver that rafters sign is, that this company is not “stacked” with experienced guides, and that he was at times having us paddle in a way that was designed to make the rapid more of an “experience.”Perhaps his desire to make the experience more exciting lead to his decisions that resulted in the “bump”. I can’t say. But today I have a swollen knee that will last through the rest of my vacation and limit my outdoor activities, which is why I came to Colorado.When I raft again, I won’t choose this company.
This was our second rafting trip with Wilderness Aware. This time we took our 9-year-old grandson on his first rafting trip. We really appreciated how our guide RJ took care to keep him safe and to make sure he felt included. The water was a little lower this time and this required a lot of paddling to maneuver the raft around the rocks. R.J. was an excellent guide and helped us all work together. The water was cool and refreshing, not too cold. It was a lot of fun!
my family had a great time on the half day trip with ashley! she was knowledgeable, funny, and STRONG. we learned so much about the area, and appreciated her leadership on the river. we will definitely be back!
We had a blast. Great company and experienced guides. The facility is nice too. We did the Brown’s Canyon full day trip, and it was so much fun. Took my nephew (18) and son (11). It’s pretty technical whitewater compared to what I’m used to back east. Great experience overall. I would raft with them again.
My group and I had a wonderful time rafting the Arkansas River with Kira as our guide! I'll admit, we struck some fear in her heart during the first half of thw trip, but with her help and patience we were able to get through all the rapids the river had to offer. River flow on this trip was about 750 CFUs, my group consisted of people ages 29, 28, 18, 15, and 12; with the 2 youngest being very nervous initially until they got through their first rapid! Also enjoyed thw trivia on the bus ride home. Great group of people working at this company!
We had a blast! Nate and Ash did a fantastic job leading us on our first white water rafting experience, even on a rocky day like today. Thank you!! We’ll be back!
Our rafting experience was top notch! Our guide, Grant, was not only extremely knowledgeable and experienced with the rapids and the surrounding areas, but was fun and ensured our group had a great time. Would highly recommend to anyone interested in giving rafting a try. Great for all levels of experience.
Our group rented a private raft for a 1/2 day rafting trip down Browns Canyon. All of the guides on the trip were fun and passionate about providing a great experience, especially our guide, Danny, who was nothing short of amazing! He did a fantastic job giving us a tour of the area and telling us all about the river, the rapids we would go through, and the surrounding area. Danny made the experience super fun and everyone had a blast! He took care to make sure everything was perfect, down to our comfort level with the temps. As the trip leader, he also made sure all of the other boats on the trip were safe. The booking process was very simple and the office staff were super friendly. I am excited to book another trip through Wilderness Aware (and request Danny, of course!) to check out more areas on the river! Thank you!!
My group of 7 people total was a huge success! The guides are all very friendly and the water was perfect. It was everyone's first time experiencing white water rafting, so it was a blast learning how to maneuver as a team. If there was one thing I'd change, it'd be the wait time in between getting there and actually leaving on the bus for the river. We arrived on time (45mins before bus pick-up) and didn't get to leave until 30 minutes after the supposed time. In the end, we didn't mind the wait and we enjoyed going to this location and will come back again. We'd like to think our two guides, which whom we forget the names of (SORRY!!) Our group of 7 would highly recommend this company to anyone visiting Colorado and wants a bit of thrill in their trip! Thank you Wilderness Aware.
My family and I did a multi-day rafting trip and it was wonderful. The company made our first time camping an amazing experience. Snack and Jelly were our tour guides; they were both fantastic! I highly recommend this company.
Left exactly on time, excellent equipment and professional & delightful guides. The float was enjoyable with just the right amount of excitement
Such a great experience rafting down the river with RJ! She has a heart for the outdoors and for swift water rescue that comes out when you talk to her! Would highly recommend using this company for your rafting adventures! All the staff were so friendly and nice and everything was really safe! Thank you again!
We had a blast with Wilderness Aware Rafting on their Browns Canyon Half Day. Everyone is so kind, and were really helpful making our trip easy and safe. Thank you!!
Our guide Ryan was awesome. Very knowledgeable and pleasant guy. Truly, a spectacular trip through the gorgeous Rockies couldn’t recommend it more. Thrilling and beautiful. Wilderness aware rafting provided a detailed itinerary during which we felt safe and cared for. Lunch was amazing and Ryan made sure that we had such a blast. Constantly great guides all three times we’ve attended. Lots of screaming and laughter the whole time.
Snack was our awesome guide on this adventure. He made sure we hit all the best spots in the river and got us very wet. We will definitely use wilderness aware again in the future.
Great experience! RJ our guide was fun, friendly and knowledgeable for her 1st year. Really cool girl. We did a full day at Browns and had a blast. Lunch spread was pretty good too. 👍🏼
We had a great 1/2 day trip with our guide Anna last week. Waters were running fast, she guided us right through all the rapids with finesse. My 7 yr old and 10 yr old boys had a blast on the trip. Highly recommend Wilderness Aware.
We had a fabulous time on the half day Brown’s Canyon trip. Snack was fun and professional. He’s a keeper, for sure! Thanks, Snack!
This was the greatest experience while we were vacationing in Colorado. The area has a lot of parking, and it can house RVs. The facilities were very clean.We had an afternoon half day 1-5pm appointment. They are efficient and polite. I highly recommend wet suits. Snack was our tour guide. Snack is also very knowledgeable about his job: keep us safe and keep us laughing! We were a family of 8. My parents are in their 70s and my 3 children are teens/adult, and I also had my 10 year old and 8 year old nephew and niece. Snack is very good with kids. He was able to joke with the adults and keep the kids calm. He used his knowledge of the river in very tactical way. He explained maneuveres and adjustments as we went along. There are areas on the river to capture candid pictures as you’re going through rapids. Very affordable package. I am so pleased we were able to raft and Snack was our guide!
The rapids ere wonderful but I took my 8 year old for the first time and the guide was not very friendly. I was drawn to the family friendly marketing but was disasapointed in the way our guide kept calling her tiny instead of taking the time to learn her name. We bought the VIP package and didn't need it, there could be more transparency in the purchase process with their customer service team. Low ranking for the marketing of family friendly and the lack of experience we had.
These guys made rafting the Arkansas River so easy and fun. The lunch was the best river side lunch that I have ever experienced. These people work very hard to ensure a safe and fun trip. David was Awesome!!
Everyone was so friendly and professional. Perfect selection for first time rafters, Browns Canyon all day trip. Gunner and David were excellent guides. Highly recommend! You won’t be disappointed 😀🌊
Has a blast on our trip! Super friendly staff and felt safe the whole time. Would recommend for all family's looking for a good activity in Buena Vista!
We had a beautiful day on the Arkansas River. The whole process from reservations to equipment to travel to and from the river went seamlessly. Our guide Ashley was very professional and a great instructor.This is a beautiful river in a beautiful state.
My husband and I rafted The Numbers and had the BEST time! It was definitely not a trip for beginners and we were prepared for that. Tony was our guide and he was THE BEST. He made sure we were safe (we were the only ones on the trip) and that we still had a great time. The lunch was more than we expected and we will be back next chance we get!
Awesome experience!! Anxiety to adrenaline driven excitement on the full day trip. Ashley is one of those rare people that enjoys what she does. While having fun is expected, she continually emphasized safety. Only disappointment was "it had to end".👍😎
FANTASTIC experience!! Greta and Danny were amazing guides and we will 💯 be going back!
Ashlynd took us on a great trip. She absolutely killed the safety and training portion, and there were no swimmers on our boat! She stuck me on the front of the boat during the bowl & made my second rafting trip one I will never forget. I will definitely be back for another trip with WA soon. THANK YOU ASHLYND!!! ♡
Ryan our guide was top notch. He was outstanding with skill, safety and history of the area. He did all this with comedic comments that kept us laughing and enjoying the river! A truly grand experience we will not forget!
Super fun trip, highly recommend WA. The guides all clearly love what they do, Greta was great!
Great day with a great guide. Greta was super fun and our group of 6 had a blast!
Excellent time. Nate’s a stud and we had a blast. My boys in another raft with Greta and she was also a stud. Great time and 3rd time down Brown’s Canyon and didn’t disappoint.
Grant was an excellent guide. He was so knowledgeable and we always felt safe. First time rafting and it exceeded expectations. Will definitely be back.
My family and I had a fantastic adventure with Ryan Brady, he is an experienced guide. We felt safe with his guidance. We will never forget this!
This was such an awesome experience!! Not only was the water fun but the guides were the best! They were hilarious and also shared really cool facts about things we passed along the way! 10 out of 10!
Been rafting with WA for over 30 years and will continue toGave 4 stars due to:1) rental wet suits were in poor condition2) at lunch stop, no hand wash station was available at thesnack table, only during sandwich making time; also, soapbottle was dirty3) lunch was mediocre, few condiments, white breadit was a cool day, windy and of course we were gettingdoused by the rapids; hot water offered at lunch for teaor cup of noodles/soup would have been welcomeOn the upside:1) warm hoodies were handed out at lunch2) Snack, our TL and river guide, was fantastic....safe,encouraging, made us practice moves much needed tonavigate the rapids from Canyon Doors to Twin Falls...lots oflocal and naturalist knowledge and very funny3) all guides reacted quickly and professionally whenthe middle raft flipped in Seidel's....debriefed with entire partygave those who swam sufficient time to recover andcontinue to the take out at Stone Bridge4) A shout out to the bus drivers and Kelsie in the office formanaging our reservation, thank you!
Great trip! So much fun, the ride, guides and the people all stacked up to be a wonderful experience. If you want to put some excitement in your life, Wilderness Aware can do that for you 😊 Happy paddling!
Greta and Ryan were great guides, very knowledgeable and made the trip super fun
We have gone with Wilderness Aware for years and will again. We are treated well, the staff are knowledgeable and kind. The water was high and fast, so the best! We love going to the best rafting company!
Awesome place. Our guide Ryan was great personable clear instructions. All around great experience.
What a great trip! Our guide, Gunner, was awesome! The scenery was great. The water was high. We are so grateful to the entire Wilderness Aware Team for an overall enjoyable experience. From sign-up to the ride back from the river - we highly recommend this team and this experience.
We had an absolutely blast! Danny was a lot of fun and great at coaching us through the rapids.
We just finished a three day rafting and camping trip with Wilderness Aware out of Buena Vista, Co. Our Guides, Ashley and Gomez were great. They did a great job explaining the river and keeping us informed of what rapids were coming up. The river is high and we paddled some technical sections with big waves without issue. Everyone stayed in the raft which is more than I can say for a lot of other outfitters we observed. Ashley is an amazing cook and kept us well fed the entire trip. Wilderness Aware guides work extremely hard to ensure you have a great experience. They offer a ton of different trip options so if camping is not your jam you can stay in your choice of accommodations. We will definitely be back. Thank You Ashley and Gomez for a great trip. Stay away from Ashley’s Crack. 😂
Top notch safety and fun as always!! Thanks for another great trip! Our guide Ash was amazing and did an incredible job!!
We had a wonderful time on the half day lower canyons float trip. This was an easier float that was perfect for the older couple that we were with. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and helped create a great experience for our family. I would highly recommend using this group if you are looking to raft in Salida.
Super fun rafting trip. Milk Run was perfect for the first timer kids and adults in our group. Our guide Ryan and all the staff were kind and helpful! Highly recommend!
Had an amazing full day on the river! The entire team was great, we especially loved Anna, who was the guide for our specific boat! She did an amazing job instructing us through some tricky water even as we pulled two people out of the water from another boat. She was so friendly and professional, would highly recommend anyone ride with her if they get the chance!
Outstanding experience for all of the members of my family! The instructions were thorough and safety was emphasized. Various tactics were illustrated to enhance the enjoyment of the raft trip.
It was an amazing experience. So happy and glad that we choose “Wilderness Aware Rafting”. They were completely professional and always made sure that everyone was taken care of on the trip.
Great experience all around. Getting fitted for gear and check in super easy. Danny was a great guide; he was fun, energetic, and was checking to make sure everyone was enjoying themselves. You would do very well to book your rafting trip with them. We look forward to coming back again soon.
Had one of the best times of my life! I did the full day and enjoyed every minutes of it. Met some really cool people as well. I went on my own but felt comfortable the whole time. Snack was an amazing guide and I learned so much about the canyon, the river, and the ecosystem. 100% recommend.
Went rafting with Gomez it was the highest it's been in 10 years . Everyone was professional and He was really great safe but extreme and great with our group. I would do my trips again with this outfit.
What an incredible adventure! Everyone was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. Our guide Danny was more than capable and engaging with the rafting group. I will definitely be recommending this place to all of my friends! Also, their prices were so reasonable ☺️
Affordable and so much fun! We could not stop smiling! Danny was fun, knowledgeable, and a wonderful guide! I highly recommend this rafting tour. I’d love to come back someday!
Our group had a fantastic time on our multiday trip with Wilderness Aware. Our guides Gatlin and Ryan were excellent and took great care of us. I highly recommend Wilderness Aware.
Great day on the river. Kira was great! So nice and friendly! I highly recommend booking!
My brother and I went whitewater rafting last week and it was an excellent experience from top to bottom. The river was bloated with runoff and the risks are significant. But the guides were great. Gatlin has his schpeel down; it’s humorous, informative and no-nonsense when it needs to be. Both he and Ash put everyone at ease by being confident themselves and letting us know what was coming and preparing us for what could go wrong. As they said, “This is not to scare you, but to prepare you.” Gatlin expertly guided the raft through the rapids and occasionally took us right into the waves so we’d get drenched. Wilderness Aware has full wet suits, shoes and jackets; they recommend ‘em for a reason - and so do I. The lunch was great; beautifully laid out and thoughtfully selected. There was plenty for everyone.It was a great day on the river and if you’re thinking about rafting the Arkansas, there is no need to look anywhere else. Wilderness Aware is the outfit to choose. And if you can get Gatlin as your guide, your experience will be unmatched.
wild ride @ 32,000 cfm Browns canyon, a little short but fast water. "Colt ", if your paying attention next time keep your wet-suit on ; ).
Great trip. Everyone was friendly and helpful. All staff worked together as a single unit, no job was to small for anyone.I was very nervous at first, but my guide, Ryan put me at ease. He was very safety conscience, informative and fun. This was my first trip and I can't wait to go again .
What an amazing experience! We did an overnight rafting trip down the Arkansas launching from Buena Vista. Our plans were amended due to the conditions of the river, but with how fast and deep the water was, it didn't matter. Everything was super "juicy"! We had the pleasure of being with Gunner, Gomez, and Kat as our guides. They took care of everything from safety instructions to campsite setup. Their love and respect for rafting made the trip better than anticipated. I would highly suggest this company for a phenomenal experience. I will be rafting this river again and I will be doing it with Wilderness Aware Rafting.
Guides were fun and helpful along the raft and the bus. All the bumps along the way were exhilarating but our whole group managed to not get a single swimmer!
We had such a great experience with our guide, Ash, and Wilderness Aware, in the Lower Brown’s Canyon run we did today. We knew we were in good hands and had lots of fun. What more can you ask?
Ashley did a wonderful job navigating the high waters. No one hit their head on the bridges, and no one fell out. Other than a chilly day, I would say it was outstanding. We look forward to a return visit.... soon. Thank you
Awesome trip with Danny who was also awesome! We'll be back next season!
This trip was awesome. We did the 2day trip with VIP package. It was so much fun and the VIP was worth it. The meals were good and plenty of food. The guides were awesome and were pumped to be on the water with us making it even more fun. 10/10 will definitely need to book another trip
Well run outfit. Owner was the one to shuttle out, pick up, and bring lunch. Guides were incredible. Thanks to Snack, Ash, and Ryan, we had one of the most memorable outdoor experiences on our overnight on the Arkansas River. DO IT!
We just finished a multi day trip June 9-10. Crazy high water flows, Gomez ( my rafter), Gunner, and Kat were all amazing guides. Gomez would tell of the history of the areas we went through. He kept us safe and prepared for what was coming, and we all had a blast!! Couldn’t have asked for a better first time experience. The overnight was amazing and they cooked us some great food!
Amazing experience, Colton was an epic raft guide for the full day Browns Canyon trip. Would recommend to anyone looking for an awesome rafting trip in Colorado.
On my 44th birthday, the most exciting , thrilling, breathtaking time of my life!! Water was really high, but Greta got us through it!! 10/10 would recommend.
Did a multi day trip here and could not have had a better experience. Guides were absolutely amazing and crushed the entire thing. We did two days of rafting with a riverside camping in between. Snack, Ryan and Ash were our guides and they were unbelievably awesome. Thanks for a great time!
Amazing half day run through Browns Canyon. Guides Danny, Ashley, and Kat were great.
Gunner and Gatlin were the best guides we could ask for and gave us a hell of an experience
Such an amazing amazing experience and a great adventure. The person guiding us did an amazing job
We did the 1/2 day Browns Canyon option, and we had an absolute blast. The sign up and check in process was smooth and easy. Ryan, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable and made our rafting experience engaging and fun. Overall, a 10/10 experience that we can't wait to do again the next time we're back in town!
We had a blast with this company! My husband, 15-yo son and I did a 2-day tour of The Narrows and Browns Canyon with WA. Our guides, Gato and Snack, were a big reason our trip was so successful! They were knowledgeable, personable and ensure our group was safe and having fun the whole trip. We appreciated their respect for the river and camp area and ensuring it was left as good or better than before we used them. And THE FOOD - I’ve never eaten so well on a rafting or camping trip in my life! We rented camping equipment from them which was helpful coming from out of state. All equipment was in good condition and clean. We will be returning for our next rafting trip to CO with this company!
The 2 day raft I had will be one I will always remember! Snack and Gato were both great, and brought a lot of life into the rafting trip, and on top of that they provided some of the best camping food I’ve ever had! Thank you Snack and Gato for the amazing experience!
What a great time on the North Platte rafting with Wilderness Aware on our father and son trip. Our guides, Gunner and Ashley were amazing before, on and after we were off the river. Great decision making skills! Thanks for the great time…
What can I say except Gunner and Ashley are awesome guides. They put our safety first in a dangerous situation that was no fault of anybody except nature. Amazing trip on the North Platte and thank you for putting our safety as your number 1 priority. You are very lucky to have these 2 as part of your team!
We had a wonderful time rafting as a family! A special thanks to the guides Tony, Dude, and Turbo! We had a wonderful experience and highly recommend for anybody in the Buena Vista area!
The 5 star review is more for our guide than the company itself. My granddaughter and I had the pleasure of having Snack and the Arkansas River all to ourselves on our recent rafting excursion. We visited very early in the season, so the river wasn't inundated with other tourists, and Snack made sure we got the full advantages of that. His personality and love for both his job and the river came alive once he got us in the raft. Snack shared his knowledge of the landscape and its history in an engaging way and made sure that we had a safe and enjoyable trip. He was one of three inspirational people my granddaughter met on this trip to Colorado ~ his personal story encouraged her to follow her own dreams. Snack is a true asset to this company. I truly hope that the owner will recognize the value of his employees and update the shoddy equipment and pay the people their worth, otherwise returning guests will look for the guides and not the company. Looking forward to our next adventure Snack!!* Please be aware actual time on the river is NOT 4 hours, it includes checkin and travel to and from launch and return to base.
Ashley was amazing, not only a great river guide but also a great conversationalist! The experience was wonderful, full of excitement and relaxation. Not to mention that lunch was surprisingly amazing too, with appetizers, entree (make your own sandwich) , and dessert (cookies)!!
I would highly recommend wilderness aware With their friendly staff and professional guides! Justin, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable of the history of the area and the river. He was a great conversationalist and really kept us entertained! He was an expert navigator and made us all look like seasoned pros!Even through the really crazy areas!WHAT A RUSH!!He made a dang good lunch too!!Thanks for everything Justin!Great job wilderness aware!
My wife and I did a full day rafting trip, we did the Numbers and the Narrows. Our guide Tony was very knowledgeable, trip went great. Will definitely raft with these guys again.
Wilderness Aware was professional and fun! We enjoyed a full day raft through the bighorn and royal gorge. Even on a cold day the guides kept everyone involved and excited!
Did the salt river full day trip and it was an amazing experience. Gatlin was our guide and he did a great job getting into the most rugged part of the rapids so we would have the best experience. Definitely a do over next year!!!
This was a very organized and professionally managed trip from start to finish. No unwanted surprises. Our guide was experienced, safety minded, congenial and gave much interesting information along the way of the terrain, plants, history, etc. We were a group of just myself and my daughter as one person cancelled at the last minute perhaps because it was the first trip of the season.? 🤔Our wet suits, equipment and changing area were all very good. Each set of rapids was explained as we approached them and we were instructed on our paddling directions.I have to comment that we did the full day trip with lunch provided which was excellent. This I might add is a very good recommendation from me being vegetarian and pretty particular about my food.The Apache Road on the way back was very narrow and one way gravel hugging the cliff with a precipitous drop off and 2 creek crossings but was maneuvered safely. Good to know if this type of thing is frightening to you so sit on the left side of the van if it is!There were souvenir items for purchase afterwards if interested. I in retrospect would suggest a t-shirt saying “I survived not only the rapids but the Apache Trail as well!” 🤣Thank you Wilderness Aware for a great excursion!PS: This was the Upper Salt River in Arizona.
Great staff, they have to put up with some awful people (not me, I promise!) And the river is pretty good. Definitely coming back.
My family went on a Full Day rafting in Browns Canyon on 8/8/2020 and had a spectacular time despite some restrictions due to COVID. From booking to safety training, transport, actual rafting tour, Wilderness Aware Rafting delivered more than what we expected. We voted for them in USA Today’s 10Best Rafting Operators because they deserve the recognition. Kudos guys! Thanks Jody, Michael, Chachi, and team. As soon as the girls turn 14, we’ll be back to tackle Level V 🌊🛶⛰🐻... Peace!✌🏽☮️
Loved our guides “Ryan, Gato & Jake” they made this all day event super fun ! Highly recommend ❤️
Tony was an awesome guide! The whole experience was just fantastic. We’ll definitely be back to do it again some day! Thank you Tony for a great time!
Had an amazing half-day trip in Browns Canyon. Our guide Gatlin was amazing! Everything was well explained so we knew what to expect, and it was SUPER fun.
Our group had an absolute blast with “Hans”!! Seriously one of the best companies I’ve rafted with!!
Loved this section of the River, absolutely stunning.Kat (Gato) our guide was great, friendly, informative, and effortlessly guided us through all the rapids. So much fun!
Snack was our guide and he was fantastic! Lots of great information about our surroundings as we went down the river. He also had some great anecdotes about each rapid we encountered, including some of his own misadventures. Everyone on staff was super friendly and ready to assist with anything we needed/any question we had.Also, it wasn't busy, since this is the end of the season. The water was at a great level, the air temperature was great, and the water wasn't too cold.Thanks for a great time, y'all! Can't wait to book the next adventure with you!
Our guide Gunnar was awesome, we had such a great time exploring the river!
I’ve rafted with wilderness aware more than a dozen times over the years and always amazing! The guides are all great, we went on a 1/2 day trip with Colton and had the time of our lives! Thanks so much for everything we’ll be back next year!!
Our guide on our rafting trip today, Snack, was awesome. Not only did he guide us through some gnarly rapids and rocks, he was a font of interesting info about the river, mountains, and surrounding area. Great company and great guide!
Online registration and waiver signing was very simple. All requests were met. Once we got there, the check-in process and equipment disbursement was easy. Colton was very knowledgeable and thorough in his intro and safety talk. Our guide was Gunner and he was super! Smart, funny, encouraging, and explained things well. He definitely knew what he was doing. I appreciated the fact that he did not use bad language. The rest of our group had Gatlin as a guide and according to them, he was also great. Probably would ask again for this same crew, if possible!
This white water experience was our favorite part of our family vacation this year! Thank you so much for such a great time. The guides were all so nice and funny! We felt safe the whole trip! We will definitely be back. Thank you!
Very fun and exhilarating experience! Browns Canyon presented some interesting navigational challenges, but our guide "snacks" expertly guided us through the treacherous obstacles. Rapids weren't exactly death defying, but every boat in our flotilla managed to dump a swimmer into the river. Great time with a great company we will return!
Great experience rafting Brown's Canyon. Gato was an amazing guide and took us down the river with great expertise. She helped my 11 year old daughter feel comfortable as well.
EXCELLENT RAFTING TRIP!!!!! WOULD HIGHLY RECCOMMEND WILDERNESS AWARE! TONY WAS AN AWESOME GUIDE!!
Snack was the absolute best guide, he gave us a fun wild ride, and was so much more informative about the surrounding area than we expected. He had story’s and information about every section of the river. We weren’t expecting to learn so much about things outside of rafting! Definitely make sure you don’t skip a trip with snack
Tony was the most amazing guide ever! Highly recommend Wilderness. They are so organized and customer friendly! Book it!
Another great, fun experience, 2 yrs. in a row, our guide Danny was awesome!
I have rafted the Arkansas with at least half a dozen rafting companies, and Wilderness Aware is by far the best. They charge the same as all the others, so try them first and reserve with them if you can. I don't know how they do it; they have a lovely facility with nice restrooms for changing and a gift store, they train their guides 3 WEEKS before they guide, their boats are well maintained, and, everything is reasonable. Do you want to rent water proof booties? $5. Splash jacket? $10. Do you need one of those sunglass cords so you don't lose your glasses? The gift shop sells them, for ...$4!!!We had such a super trip on the Arkansas that we are thinking of trying another river out of our area. Our guide was Ashlynd and she was wonderful, but when asked, she said all their guides were great. You will not be disappointed with Wilderness Aware.
Awesome full day trip through Browns with Gatlin!! I would definitely use this outfitter again
Great half day on the river with my kids. Staff was wonderful, professional and safe. Will raft with Wilderness Aware again.
My family (wife and two teenagers) and I had an amazing time on our rafting trip (Numbers Full Day). It was right up our alley with pretty continuous action on the river. Justin was a great guide getting us safely through our trip, providing some fun activities along the way, and educating us about the river and surrounding area. I highly recommend booking a rafting trip with Wilderness Aware.
Highly recommend Wilderness Aware!We had a brilliant time on the Arkansas (Brown's Canyon 1/2 day)! Ellie, our guide and trip leader of 5 rafts, was great. We felt safe and she made it fun, thanks! We'll be back!
Justin was an Amazing Guide! Never did rafting previously for myself or family. He coached us through every step. Did a Great job of empowering and encouraging my two young sons and they had a BLAST! I was so relieved by the safety and Fun that was accomplished! Absolutely made our entire trip! Anyone with one of these guides can do it and won’t regret it!! Thank you!!!
There are many rafting companies in the area and after a little research we decided to go with Wilderness Aware for our first rafting trip with our family. We have three boys 4, 6, and 12 so the family float was our only option. From the first phone call to get information to the second call to book the trip, and checking in at the the Buena Vista facility the staff was full of information, helpful, and kind.The trip itself was perfect. The route had just enough splashing to get the kids excited and laughing. Our guide Joey was excellent. He is a personable guy and with our shy young boys got them to open up during the trip. He gave us information about the areas we were traveling through as well as great conversations about other topics that we both had interest in like the ski mountains and mining. Our trip had two rafts in it and our family was only in one with Joey but we also had the pleasure to chat with the other guide Gunner as well. He as well had a great sense of humor and worked well with Joey, I am happy to go in a raft with either of these awesome guides.We are from Connecticut and this was our first trip to Colorado. As my boys get bigger, I am happy to say that Wilderness Aware will have a repeat customer to try out the higher class rapids. Thank you again to all of the staff from start to finish but especially Joey and Gunner for making the trip memorable!Steve and Sarah Walsh
Incredible experience! The staff made the trip so much more fun. Our guide (Snack) was fun, humorous and very informative. We took a half day trip on Browns. Great for our whole family.
My husband and I go on two trips a year with WA. Each trip is unique. The guides read the River, read their customers for the level of excitement wanted and are just good, fun people. Camping out with them is nature with a bit of pampering. Their food is fantastic. Camp fires in the evening with a sweet treat can’t be beat. This trip Colton was our leader. Eugene was our boat guide. Both A+ guys. Leadership from Brian the owner and lead guide Justin carried over to every trip. After day one rafting and camp set up, they showed us how to jump off a rock into the river. It was a blast! Great value in outdoor experience. Safe and an adventure. Go with WA!!!!
We had the best time on our family rafting adventure with Megan as our guide down the Lower Brown Canyon on the Arkansas river. Our 7 year old was ready to just go back to the put in spot and do it all over again right away! Everything was very well organized and we felt very safe while having a blast on the river! And we ended up with some great photos too as captured by the photographer on the shore. Megan was friendly and informative and guided us safely on the water while providing us enough opportunities to get splashed! I would 100% recommend Wilderness Aware and Megan as the guide!
Absolutely LOVED this overnight trip on the the Arkansas River! Our guides were all top notch and the food they cooked us was awesome! They thought of EVERYTHING! I Had high expectations for this trip and this company and ALL the employees far exceeded those expectations. Can’t wait to go back and do an even longer trip down the river next time! Thank you all for the best birthday ever!! See you next year!
Tony was our guide for a half-day browns canyon white water rafting trip. His instructions were simple, easy to follow. He told us many interesting things about the area and history. My teenagers felt very safe with him, because this was their first time white water rafting.The rafting equipment was very well-maintained and our wetsuits smelled fresh, having just been washed.We really enjoyed our time.
This was our first time rafting ever and it was amazing! We took our 11 and 14 year old kids (who loved it) and my husband said it was the best adrenaline high he's ever had. This definitely will be a repeat when we come to visit again! Our guide 'Snack' was amazing and really helped our 11 year old who was very nervous at the beginning. He ended up paddling through a lot of it (sat for some of the bigger stuff) and absolutely loved the trip! We all can't wait to do it again so thank you for making it a great first time experience for us!
This was such a fun experience! All the staff were super friendly and they make you feel confident before you even head out going over basic commands and safety tips.A HUGE Shout-out to our guide Megan she really crushed it!!! She was so fun, engaging and had great facts to share about the scenery we passed while making sure we were staying safe! Would 10/10 recommend this tour and this company to anyone looking to try rafting! We did the full day tour and the guides also did such a great job of organizing lunch and making sure everyone got something to eat! I will definitely be back! Thank you Megan you're amazing!!!! 🤘🏻🫶🏻
I only use Wilderness Aware when rafting the Arkansas River in Colorado. They are well trained, friendly and knowledgeable. Megan was great on our trip through Browns Canyon with flows running near record highs. Exciting and we kept safe and warm with the recommended gear. Wetsuits a must for us on 6/1.
The facilities are very up-to-date and clean. Every person we encountered was helpful and funny (a big plus). The trip was breathtaking and some parts were challenging and some relaxing. Danny, our guide, made it so enjoyable and I felt like a pro by the need.
Best Rafting Experience Ever!! Thanks to our awesome guide Justin, he was top notch. He knew every twist & turn on the water and just about everything in CO!!! Couldn’t have asked for a better time. Staff working inside were kind and friendly! Great place overall! Highly recommend. Go here! For real! It’s Awesome!
If you’re trying to choose from the long list of guide companies for a fun filled day on the water, look no further! By far the best time I’ve ever had rafting! We ended being the only two doing the numbers full day trip and our guide, Gomez, made sure we got the experience we wanted! He was even kind enough to explain some guiding principles and how to read the river for me. He also got us an awesome experience surfing the big wave in the buena vista water park! Amazing guide and awesome trip on an exciting stretch of the Arkansas! The set up at Wilderness Aware was also better than others I have experienced. Great experience all around!
