All Buena Vista Tours & Excursions in 2026

Enjoy a thrilling day rafting through the rapids of Salida Valley when you book this half-day adventure. Head to the office and get a safety briefing before being shuttled to the launch point on the river. Navigate class I and II rapids with a certified instructor and enjoy stunning views of the Rocky Mountains during the calmer sections. No prior whitewater rafting experience is required.

Enjoy beginner-friendly aerial adventures against the backdrop of Colorado's Rocky Mountain scenery with this private zipline experience. Pick from multiple convenient start times, and make your own way to the course. After a safety briefing, grab your helmet, strap into your harness, and soar along six different ziplines with views overlooking slot canyons and mountain terrain.

Get up close and personal with Buena Vista, Colorado’s dramatic granite rock formations and Rocky Mountain scenery—and enjoy an active way to explore—on this small-group rock climbing experience. Pick from multiple convenient tour times, meet your guide at the start point, and receive an introduction to the “via ferrata” style of climbing. Then, with one-on-one instruction, follow the trail, scale cliff faces, travel via iron rungs and bridges, and more.

Conquer the rapids of the popular Browns Canyon stretch of the Arkansas River on this family-friendly whitewater rafting tour. With a launch point just north of Buena Vista, this intermediate-level adventure lets you paddle through choppy chutes like the ‘Zoom Flume’ and ‘Pinball.’ Enjoy the majestic Colorado scenery and the dramatic granite canyon on calmer stretches as you wind through a proposed Federal Wilderness Area.

Raft Browns Canyon with a trusted, family-owned outfitter that’s been guiding Colorado adventures for over 30 years. Mild to Wild combines top-tier safety with experienced professional guides (averaging 2,000+ river miles) and a genuine commitment to exceptional guest experiences. Enjoy a seamless trip with onsite bathrooms and changing rooms, free parking, round-trip transportation, and premium Coast Guard approved equipment. Neoprene wetsuits are included, with boots available for rent. Small group sizes and highly trained guides with advanced safety certifications make this a comfortable, worry free way to experience one of Colorado’s most iconic rafting trips.

THIS IS A SELF-GUIDED AUDIO TOUR. There is no guide to meet. After booking, you'll receive a separate email from Steve's Original Salida Walking Tours with your personal tour-access link. No app or GPS is required. Cell service is required; headphones are recommended. Explore Colorado's largest National Historic District and discover the stories behind the buildings that created Salida. Learn what historic hotels, railroad hubs, storefronts and second-story businesses were actually used for—and how they changed as the town grew. Hear stories of devastating fires and rebuilding, brothels and opera houses, the railroad boom, local businesses and the remarkable people who shaped downtown Salida. Researched and written by local historian and author Steve Chapman and professionally produced with voice actors, soundtracks and sound effects. Explore at your own pace.

Get to know Salida’s past and present, and walk through its streets with the eyes of a local. This walking tour takes you down the banks of the Arkansas River with a professional guide. Hear fascinating tales of Salida's exciting, and sometimes violent, history; then, get the inside scoop on the best spots for dining, nightlife, and shopping.

Soar through the treetops on the thrilling Mountaintop Zipline in Buena Vista, Colorado. This unique half-day experience features six exhilarating ziplines, allowing guests to glide over 3,500 feet of breathtaking scenery in the Arkansas River Valley. Designed for adventurers aged seven and up, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the majestic Collegiate Peaks while zipping from tree to tree. The course, intricately built into the mountainside, offers a seamless blend with nature, ensuring a memorable outing for families and nature enthusiasts alike. Conclude your adventure with a heart-pounding ride on a 900-foot dual race line, perfect for making unforgettable memories with friends or family.

Enjoy two Colorado adventures in one day with this combo tour that begins with whitewater rafting and ends with ziplining. You'll paddle down the Arkansas River through Browns Canyon National Monument, one of the most scenic sections of the river. Then take to the treetops for a zipline experience in the mountains.

Extreme Colorado white water rafting on the Arkansas River in Buena Vista is for experienced rafters or adventurous beginners in good physical condition. The Numbers sections offers some of the most technical white water rafting in Colorado. Be prepared for a full body workout as your professional river guide directs your group through each back to back rapid. Enjoy scenic views of the 14,000 foot Collegiate Peaks and cottonwood lined riverbanks between paddle strokes

Colorado's most popular whitewater rafting trip trough Brown's Canyon National Monument. Enjoy spectacular scenery and thrilling whitewater on this professionally guided river trip.

Experience the adrenaline-pumping excitement of a whitewater rafting adventure in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains on this professionally guided, half-day excursion. Ride along the clear, crisp waters of the Arkansas River, from the river’s source in the beautiful Arkansas Valley, with dramatic 14,000 foot peaks to the bottom of the Royal Gorge. Crash through the Class II and III rapids of the Granite Gorge and Browns Canyon National Monument whitewater. All rafting equipment — self-bailing raft, paddle, lifejacket and helmet — are included.

Explore Browns Canyon National Monument in a thrilling way during this whitewater rafting excursion. A professional guide will lead you through the Arkansas River, as you drift through calm waters and tackle Class III-IV rapids. All skill levels will find that this activity is both fun and manageable no matter your experience with whitewater rafting. Keep your eyes off the water as well; wildlife, dazzling granite rock formations, and mountainous peaks might make an appearance.

Explore Buena Vista with ease and comfort on this private e-bike tour. The city’s high altitude can be difficult for those who are not accustomed to it; e-bikes make your experience easier so you can focus on your surroundings rather than pedaling.

Experienced whitewater paddlers will enjoy the thrill of rafting on the Arkansas Rive through Browns Canyon on this challenging full-day tour. With a guide to usher you through the intermediate rapids such as the Big Drop, Zoom Flume, and Pinball, everyone will feel safe and comfortable. On calm stretches, you can take in views of some of Colorado's bucolic natural scenery and local wildlife.

Explore Browns Canyon National Monument on a white-water rafting adventure. Spend a few hours shooting the Class III rapids, perfect for beginner or intermediate paddlers, in the company of a guide—perfect for families who want to raft together. Keep a lookout for local wildlife such as big horn sheep and blue heron as you paddle, learning about the area through your guide's commentary.

Buena Vista—or BV, as the locals say—sits right in the Collegiate Peaks, Colorado’s highest concentration of 14ers. The Arkansas River flows through it all, and on this tour, you’ll get to take in the views from the water, no experience required. Let your guide paddle your raft over bouncy wave trains and calmer sections of this wild river as you and your crew float through the beauty of central Colorado.

If you love outdoor adventure, whitewater rafting in Colorado is a must. On this whitewater tour from Buena Vista, raft down the Arkansas River through Browns Canyon, which provides the perfect combination of alpine scenery, rapids, calm stretches and family-friendly fun. With an experienced guide, you’ll navigate boulders and rapids known as Toilet Bowl and Big Drop.

Traverse the thrilling rapids of Brown’s Canyon National Monument on a half-day whitewater rafting tour. With one morning and two afternoon tours offered, you can easily find a departure time to fit with your schedule. In addition to an included helmet and life vest, you also enjoy instruction from your guide before the adventure begins.  Once everyone is ready, paddle down Devil’s Punchbowl, Pinball, Big Drop, and more.

Beginners will feel safe and comfortable on this short rafting trip down the Milk Run of the Arkansas River in Buena Vista, CO. Families with small children over two years old can paddle together through easy splashes and gentle floats with mountain views. All paddling equipment and safety gear is included.

Novice and advanced rafters alike agree that running Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River makes for a fun-filled day on the water. Admire canyon scenery as you head through white water, including rapids such as Pinball and Big Drop. Lunch is also included for you to enjoy partway through the trip.

Get your toes wet on this fun and splashy float! This trip is a gentle excursion that allows you and your family to take in all the beauty of the Arkansas River. It is perfect for first-time rafters, small children and anyone looking to have a great time in nature!

Enjoy two outdoor activities with this combo tour that starts with ziplining and ends with whitewater rafting. You'll zoom through the woods on a zipline tour across cliff faces, then tackle the Numbers section of the Arkansas River on a rafting adventure along one of the river's most challenging portions, known for technical rapids, steep drops, and narrow channels.