Buena Vista Rafting

Buena Vista means "beautiful view" in Spanish, and that’s exactly what you get in this Colorado mountain town: beautiful views everywhere you look. Surrounded by the Collegiate Peaks — the largest collection of 14,000-foot mountains in the state of Colorado (locals call them "fourteeners") — Buena Vista is also in the heart of the Arkansas River Valley, home to the Arkansas River. It's the most popular commercially-run river in the United States, making Buena Vista rafting some of the best river rafting in the entire county!

Buena Vista Rafting Adventures on the Arkansas River

Our Buena Vista rafting trips offer a wide range of adventures, from expert, advanced, intermediate and beginner rafting trips to relaxing float trips. No matter which you choose, we create the perfect experience by offering 1/2-day, full-day or multi-day trips for an extended rafting vacation, tailored to any ability, age or range of ages and any level of difficult or ease desired.

Buena Vista rafting trips are offered from mid-May through early September on the Arkansas River. The most family-friendly time of year for Buena Vista rafting is after the water starts to calm down, usually from July through September. Peak water for those seeking maximum whitewater thrill is usually during June.

Dedicated to providing our guests with the best possible experience of rafting in Buena Vista, we deliver rafting adventures that are informative, memorable, exciting and fun. We handle all the details . . . including terrific meals, personalized service, technically skilled guides and all the necessary equipment.

For details about our Buena Vista rafting trips on the Arkansas River, please click here. Or simply call us at 1-800-997-3448 and let us help you plan a memorable Buena Vista Rafting trip today.

All rafting trips include: rafts, helmets, personal flotation device, basic instruction and a professional, highly-skilled river rafting guide in your boat.

For more information about our Buena Vista rafting choices and the adventures that await you, please visit our Arkansas River page or simply call us today and let us help you plan a memorable Buena Vista Rafting adventure today!

In addition to world-class Buena Vista rafting adventures, the town of Buena Vista is worth exploring on its own merits. Located in the Arkansas River Valley, this authentic mountain town is surrounded by 16 14,000 peaks that form the Saguache Mountain range. Unlike the polished, upscale and sometimes glitzy towns of Vail, Aspen and parts of Summit County, Buena Vista is a picturesque but "real" mountain town that hasn’t been overtaken by development.

The rustic charm of Buena Vista is nicely complemented by the range of outdoor activities including hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, two fabulous natural hot springs just minutes from town (Mt. Princeton and Cottonwood Hot Springs) and of course, our famous Buena Vista rafting adventures. The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation area, which is a Colorado State Park, runs through the Valley, and the area offers great camping as well as a host of cabins, lodges, motels and charming B&Bs.

Getting There

Transportation to Buena Vista is available from Summit County and Denver. Call for pricing and details: 1-800-997-3448. However, we thinking getting there is half the fun, so we usually encourage our clients to make the ride on their own and enjoy it as an integral part of their adventure. If you choose to drive yourself, thus saving money and stopping as you like along the way, here are some approximate travel times: