Browns Canyon Full Day

Trip Details

Arkansas River Class III

Full Day

Adventurous Full day

Runs May to August 15th. After August 15th, please see Shoshone on the Colorado River

Minimum age is 8 years

Location: Aspen/Snowmass

Meeting times: 8:30 am

Includes: Lunch

Aspen Price: $200 Adult
$190 Child

Twin Lakes Price: $163 Adult
$153 Child

If you wish to book within 48 hours of your trip time, please call our office at (970) 920-3511 . We would be happy to book for you!

Browns Canyon Full Day Rafting on the Arkansas River

If you could only do one whitewater rafting trip in Colorado, Browns Canyon would be the one. This 16-mile stretch of the Arkansas River runs through Browns Canyon National Monument, past old cabins and railroad tracks that give it a real frontier feel, between massive granite formations you’ll want to look up at whenever you get a break from paddling.

After a gentle warm-up below the put in, you’ll run Class III rapids like Zoom Flume, the Seven Stairs and Seidel’s, with a riverside lunch in between and a chance to jump in for a swim. It’s our staff favorite and, we think, our best trip: a full day of real whitewater that works for adults and families alike, running daily all summer.

Keep the existing links on “whitewater rafting”, “families” and “rafting” in the new copy where those words appear.

Any trip can be made private and customized for your group.

Or Call Us at (970) 920-3511

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Browns Canyon is Class III whitewater and suits first-time rafters who want a real whitewater day. You’ll need to be in good physical condition, follow your guide’s instructions and paddle actively through the rapids. Your guide covers everything you need to know before you launch.

Kids 8 and up can raft Browns Canyon, depending on water levels. It’s a popular trip for families with older kids who want more excitement than a mild float.

Yes, transportation to and from the river is included. Browns Canyon trips leave from our downtown Aspen shop, where we can also pick you up at your hotel or residence around Aspen, or from our Twin Lakes shop at 759 Highway 82. From Aspen, meet at 8:30 am.

It’s a full day with about four hours on the river and a riverside lunch included. You’ll run the Class III rapids in the morning and afternoon with lunch on the river bank in between.

Wear a swimsuit or quick drying, non cotton athletic clothes. We provide a life jacket, helmet, paddle, splash gear and neoprene booties, plus wetsuits when the conditions call for them. Bring waterproof sunscreen, sunglasses with a strap, comfortable shoes for the ride, and a change of clothes for the ride home. A warm layer can stay in the van while you’re on the water.

Browns Canyon runs from May to mid August. Early in the season the water is higher and faster; from mid June the flows settle into a steady, classic Class III ride. After mid August, our full day trip moves to Shoshone on the Colorado River.

What’s Included
Transportation to and from the river, a life jacket, helmet, paddle, splash gear and neoprene booties, a wetsuit when needed, and a riverside lunch. Trip photos aren’t included, but you can buy them online after your trip.

What to Wear Rafting

Wear quick drying, non cotton clothing such as shorts and a t-shirt, or a swimsuit. Bring waterproof sunscreen (you’ll be at high elevation, where the sun is intense), sunglasses with a retaining strap, and comfortable walking shoes. We provide neoprene booties, so your shoes stay out of the river. Bring a change of clothes for the ride home.

Our shuttle is your locker room: anything that isn’t going on the water stays in the van, which is staffed or locked the whole time.

Keep the line under the video: “We provide splash gear on all of our trips, and wetsuits and helmets when appropriate.” Change it from its current heading style (H4) to the same body text style as the paragraphs.

We provide splash gear on all of our trips, and wetsuits and helmets when appropriate.

Browns Canyon Trip Reviews

Had an amazing time with Aspen Whitewater! The guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and made everyone feel safe while still keeping it fun and exciting. The scenery in Browns Canyon was absolutely beautiful, and the rapids were the perfect mix of adventure and enjoyment. The whole experience was well organized from start to finish, and you can tell the staff genuinely loves what they do. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Aspen. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a memorable day on the river!
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Clayton Lederhos Avatar
Clayton Lederhos
6/18/2026
Browns Canyon, talk about an epic trip! Browns Canyon, talk about an epic trip! When in CO just go with AWR! Class act. River guide Sam was a blast. While professional and giving clear instructions, Sam felt like our friend by the end of the trip. She was wonderful and just what you want in a River guide. Jim was awesome! Thanks for making sure we had all the equipment we needed and the amazing Sammies! We will be back next season. Maybe with kids next time. Thank you.
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Jennifer Verna Avatar
Jennifer Verna
8/16/2025
When going to Colorado When going to Colorado you have a ton of choices for rafting trips. Stop here with AWR. They’re a class act. We went out and ran Brown Canyon on the Arkansas River. Jim communicated great and made sure we had delicious food for lunch. Great Sammie’s! Just what was needed for an afternoon of rapids. Our rafting guide Sam was amazing. She gave clear instructions and was a total blast to be around. She let the adults act like kids on a kid free trip. We can’t thank you enough for the great time. We will be back next year. Maybe with kids. We hope to have Sam as our guide next year!
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Jenica Avatar
Jenica
7/27/2025

Book Your Browns Canyon Rafting Trip

Browns Canyon runs daily from May to mid August. Booking within 48 hours? Call us at (970) 920-3511 and we’ll set it up.

Call Us: (970) 920-3511
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