We offer two scenic trips specifically designed for beginners and families with young children, four years old and up. Perfect for the new rafter dipping their paddle for the first time, or a seasoned enthusiast seeking a tranquil outing.
Our goal is to create excitement for the sport of white water rafting without the bigger rapids possibly scaring the less experienced members of the family. If you’re looking to step it up a notch, families with children ages 7 and up, checkout our Browns Canyon white water rafting trip.
There are many rafting outfitters on the Arkansas River, but families often choose Wilderness Aware because of how we guide the experience.
50 Years of Arkansas River Experience
Wilderness Aware has guided rafting trips on Colorado rivers since 1976, helping thousands of families safely enjoy their first rafting experience.
Guides Who Are Great With Kids
Our guides are patient, calm, and excellent at explaining what to expect so kids feel confident and excited rather than nervous.
Trips Designed for Mixed-Experience Groups
Family groups often include a mix of ages and comfort levels. Our guides adjust the pace of the trip so everyone feels included and supported.
Adventure Without Pressure
The goal of our family trips is simple: help everyone enjoy the river, laugh together, and leave with a great story to tell.
This thoughtful approach is why many families return to raft with Wilderness Aware again when they visit Colorado.
Price listed includes transportation to the river and back to our office. Price listed does not include land and water access fees (9%) or gratuity for your guide.
These trips offer the perfect introduction to whitewater rafting for families and timid first-time guests.
A scenic section of river that includes fun rapids and beautiful canyon views.
One of the most popular family rafting sections near Buena Vista.
The Milk Run offers a relaxed float with playful rapids and incredible mountain scenery, making it a favorite for families with younger children.
These family-friendly rafting trips are ideal for:
These trips are designed for guests who want fun rapids without the intensity of bigger whitewater sections.
Families with teenagers may find this stretch mellow.
Not sure if this trip is right for you? Call us at: 719-395-2112 or 1-800-462-7238. Our staff will help you choose the perfect trip for your group!
What to Bring:
Other Items to Bring:
When You NEED a Wetsuit (provided by us upon request):
When a Wetsuit is Optional:
Provided Cold Weather Gear:
Weather Note: Mountain weather can change quickly. Even if it’s warm when you arrive, afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. This is why wetsuits and splash jackets are always available.
Still Have Questions? Check out our complete Packing List page or call us at 719-395-2112.
Family trips typically run May through September, depending on river conditions.
Spring snowmelt adds excitement while still remaining manageable for families with young children.
The river creates ideal family rafting conditions with small rapids and warm weather.
Lower water levels create a more leisurely float with smaller rapids, perfect for younger kids.
Our guides carefully select the most appropriate river section each day based on water levels and the age of guests.
We get that plans change, so we’ve designed our cancellation policy with our guests’ busy schedules in mind.
Quarter and Half Day Trip Cancellation Policy:
View full Quarter and Half Day Trip Cancellation Policy
Wilderness Aware reserves the right to modify or cancel your trip due to extremely high or low water conditions. We will give you as much notice as possible, if possible, of conditions that may affect your scheduled trip. Please note that if a suitable section of the river is available for your group and you choose not to participate, no refund will be provided. If Wilderness Aware cancels your trip, a full refund will be provided.
Our office staff would be happy to assist you.
Please give us a call at: 719-395-2112 or 1-800-462-7238
Yes. Lower Browns Canyon and the Milk Run are among the most family-friendly rafting sections on the Arkansas River. Trips are guided by experienced professionals and designed specifically for families and beginners.
Minimum age depends on water levels but is typically 4–6 years old for family trips.
No experience is required. Many children on these trips are rafting for the first time.
Wear quick-dry clothing such as swimwear or athletic clothing. Secure footwear like water shoes or river sandals is recommended.
Quarter-day trips last 1-2 hours and Half-day trips typically last 3-4 hours total.
Yes! Kids often enjoy helping paddle through rapids, though guides adjust expectations based on age and comfort level.
Families often mention:
Patient, friendly guides
A relaxed and welcoming environment
Great scenery and fun rapids
An experience that worked for everyone in the group
Many families say rafting with Wilderness Aware became one of their favorite memories from their Colorado vacation.
Both trips are gentle, family-friendly floats on the Arkansas River designed for guests ages 4 and up — but they launch from different points and offer a slightly different experience. The Lower Browns Canyon trip flows through a scenic stretch that includes the Salida Roller Coaster rapid — a fun, splashy wave that’s the highlight of the trip. The Milk Run is a milder option launching from our Wilderness Aware base with calmer water and minimal rapids. If you’re unsure which is right for your group, call us — our staff will match you to the best option based on the ages and comfort level of everyone in your party.
Both the Milk Run and Lower Browns Canyon trips are open to children ages 4 and up — the most family-accessible rafting experiences WA offers. We regularly have children as young as 4 and 5 on these trips, and they love it. The current is gentle, the rapids are mild, guides are experienced with young children, and the pace is relaxed enough that little ones can take it all in. If your child has anxiety about water, let your guide know at check-in — our guides are excellent at easing nerves for guests of any age.
These trips are genuinely enjoyable for adults of all ages — not just a vehicle for accommodating young kids. The Arkansas River scenery is beautiful, guides share interesting natural and historical context throughout the float, and the relaxed pace is something many adults specifically seek out. We regularly have grandparents in their 70s rafting alongside grandkids, and they have just as much fun. Think of it as a scenic river float with just enough excitement to keep it interesting — not a thrill-seeker’s trip, but a genuinely pleasant day on the water for the whole family.
The Lower Browns Canyon trip includes the Salida Roller Coaster rapid — a genuine wave that produces splashing and a moment of real excitement. It’s not a dangerous rapid, but guests who expected a completely flat float have occasionally been surprised by it. We want to set the right expectation: the Salida Roller Coaster is fun, it’s safe, and it’s one of the most popular moments of the trip. Your guide will brief you before you reach it so no one is caught off guard. If you or someone in your group has significant anxiety about any moving water, the Milk Run is the calmer option.
The Salida Roller Coaster is a fun wave feature on the Lower Browns Canyon section of the Arkansas River — named for the bumpy, splashy ride it gives your raft. It’s the most exciting moment of the Lower Browns trip and a consistent crowd-pleaser, especially for kids. Classified as Class II, it produces spray and movement but is perfectly safe for families with young children. Your guide will point it out before you arrive and give a quick heads-up so everyone can brace, paddle, and enjoy the ride.
Yes. Non-swimmers raft with us on these trips regularly. Every guest wears a properly fitted life jacket at all times, and the calm water on both sections means it’s very unlikely anyone will enter the water. Guides are trained in swift water rescue. If you or someone in your group can’t swim, let your guide know before launching — they’ll keep an extra eye out and make sure everyone feels comfortable and confident throughout the trip.
The Lower Browns Canyon half-day trip runs approximately 2 hours on the water. With check-in, gear-up, safety orientation, the shuttle to the put-in, and the ride back to our base, plan for roughly 3 to 3.5 hours total. The Milk Run is a shorter experience. For families with very young children, this is a manageable and well-paced window — long enough to be a real adventure, short enough that little ones won’t run out of steam. We recommend arriving 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time.
Absolutely — and it’s one of the most common paths our guests take. Several guests have done the Lower Browns on one day and returned the very next day for Browns Canyon, sometimes requesting the same guides. These trips are a perfect way to get comfortable on the water, learn the basic paddle commands, and see how your group handles moving water before stepping up to bigger rapids. Our guides will often give you a sense at the end of the trip whether you’d be comfortable on a more challenging section. Think of it as the ideal on-ramp to Colorado whitewater rafting.
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.
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!
