Browns Canyon Rafting Rafting Blog

Overnight Rafting Trips

Browns Canyon Rafting runs three 2-day overnight trips on the Arkansas River from Buena Vista. They are Browns Canyon (Class III–IV, ages 7+), Numbers and Browns Canyon (Class IV, ages 14+) and Pine Creek (Class III–V, ages 16+). Guides cook every meal from Day 1 lunch through Day 2 lunch, and you camp inside Browns Canyon National Monument.

Key takeaways:

All three overnight trips leave our Buena Vista Outpost at 10 am on Day 1 and return around 3 pm on Day 2.
2026 prices: Browns Canyon $550, Numbers and Browns $600, Pine Creek $650 per person.
Tents, camp chairs, tables, coolers, dry bags, a wetsuit package and all meals are included. You bring clothes, toiletries and a sleeping bag and pad, or rent them.
Trips run May 1 to August 15 and need at least 4 guests.
You sleep inside an International Dark Sky Park.

Which Colorado Overnight Rafting Trip Is Right for You?

The difference is how much whitewater you want. All three trips end with the scenic run through Browns Canyon on Day 2. What changes is where you start on Day 1.

	Browns Canyon Overnight	Numbers & Browns Canyon Overnight	Pine Creek Overnight
Price per person (2026)	$550	$600	$650
River miles	About 29	About 35	About 35–36
Whitewater	Class III–IV	Class IV	Class III–V
Minimum age	7 (and 50 lbs)	14	16
Experience	None needed	Good for confident first-timers	Previous rafting recommended
Best for	Families, mixed groups	Thrill-seekers, teens and adults	Experienced paddlers
High-water limit	Section may change	Numbers closes above 2,400 cfs	Pine Creek doesn’t run above 1,200 cfs

Browns Canyon Overnight

Browns Canyon Overnight is the family overnight. It starts at The Narrows and runs about 29 miles through Browns Canyon National Monument. You get Class III rapids like Zoom Flume, with plenty of calm water for swimming, spotting wildlife and talking around camp.

Numbers and Browns Canyon Overnight

Numbers and Browns Canyon opens with The Numbers, a continuous Class IV stretch north of Buena Vista. You run it on Day 1 while everyone’s fresh, then camp in the monument and finish through Browns Canyon on Day 2. It’s the step up for groups who’ve rafted before, or teens who want more than a half day. Our post on how The Numbers differs from Browns Canyon explains the jump in difficulty.

Pine Creek Overnight

Pine Creek Overnight is the biggest whitewater trip we run. Pine Creek is a Class V rapid about 1.5 miles long that drops roughly 200 feet per mile. You run it on Day 1, then The Numbers and The Narrows, then camp near the top of Browns Canyon. It’s for strong, experienced paddlers aged 16 and up.

What Does a 2-Day Rafting Trip Look Like?

Here’s the typical itinerary. Your guides adjust the timing to the river and the group.

Day 1

Arrive at the Buena Vista Outpost (28395 County Rd 317) by 9:15 am for check-in and gear fitting.
Launch at 10 am and run the day’s whitewater.
Stop for a riverside lunch your guides prepare.
Run more rapids in the afternoon and reach camp in Browns Canyon National Monument.
Spend free time hiking, exploring, fishing, playing camp games or just relaxing.
Eat a guide-cooked dinner, then sleep in a tent or under the stars.

Day 2

Breakfast from the camp kitchen.
An unhurried morning at camp before you pack up.
Launch, run the rest of Browns Canyon and stop for a riverside lunch.
Arrive back at the outpost around 3 pm.

What's Included, and What Do You Need to Bring?

Guides do the heavy lifting: they rig the boats, set up the kitchen and pack the gear.

Included	You bring
Professional river guides and all rafting equipment	Clothes for river and camp (no cotton on the river)
Wetsuit package: wetsuit, splash top, booties	Toiletries and any medications
Tents, chairs, tables, coolers and dry bags	Sleeping bag and sleeping pad (rentals available)
All meals, Day 1 lunch through Day 2 lunch	Sunglasses with a strap, sunscreen, a warm layer for evening
Transportation between the outpost and the river	A change of dry clothes for the drive home

Dietary needs can be accommodated. Premium surf-and-turf and vegetarian meal packages are also available. For a full gear rundown, see how to prepare for your rafting trip.

Where Do You Camp on an Overnight Rafting Trip?

You camp at riverside sites inside Browns Canyon National Monument. Several of these sites can only be reached by boat. The monument was designated on February 19, 2015, and it became an International Dark Sky Park in December 2024. On a clear night, you’ll see far more stars than you can from Denver or Colorado Springs. That’s a big part of why people book an overnight instead of two day trips.

Read more about the area in our post on Browns Canyon National Monument.

When Is the Best Time for an Overnight Rafting Trip in Colorado?

Overnight trips run from May 1 to August 15:

May to June: Snowmelt runoff brings the biggest water. This is the best window for Numbers and Pine Creek thrill-seekers. Watch the high-water limits: The Numbers closes above 2,400 cfs and Pine Creek above 1,200 cfs. Minimum ages and sections can change.
July to mid-August: Warmer days, warmer water and steadier flows. This is the sweet spot for families on the Browns Canyon overnight.

You can track flows on CPW’s Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area water flow page. Overnight trips need at least 4 guests and fill early for summer weekends, so book well ahead.

Overnight cancellations follow their own policy: a full refund minus a $40 administration fee per guest up to 10 days before the trip, and no refund or credit inside 10 days. If we cancel, you get a full refund or trip credit. Details are in our rafting FAQ.

Can You Book a Private Overnight Rafting Trip?

Families, reunions and friend groups often want a boat or a whole trip to themselves. Our private full-day raft is the day-trip version. For a private overnight, contact the office with your group size and dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an overnight rafting trip in Colorado cost?

Our 2026 overnight prices on the Arkansas River are $550 per person for Browns Canyon, $600 for Numbers and Browns Canyon, and $650 for Pine Creek. Each 2-day trip includes guides, rafting gear, a wetsuit package, tents and camp furniture, transportation from Buena Vista, and every meal from Day 1 lunch through Day 2 lunch. Sleeping bags are extra or bring-your-own.

How old do you have to be for an overnight rafting trip?

The minimum age depends on the trip. Browns Canyon Overnight starts at age 7 and 50 lbs, which makes it our family overnight. Numbers and Browns Canyon starts at 14, and Pine Creek, with its Class V whitewater, at 16. Minimums can go up during high water, so check with the office for early-season dates.

Do I need rafting experience for a 2-day trip?

Not for the Browns Canyon overnight. It’s mostly Class III, and your guide steers and calls every stroke. The Numbers and Browns trip is Class IV, and it suits confident first-timers in good shape. Pine Creek is Class V and recommended for paddlers with previous rafting experience, since the rapid runs about 1.5 miles nonstop.

What do you eat on an overnight rafting trip?

Guides cook four meals: lunch and dinner on Day 1, then breakfast and lunch on Day 2. Lunches are served riverside, and dinner and breakfast come from the camp kitchen. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated with notice. Premium surf-and-turf and vegetarian packages are available if your group wants to upgrade the menu.

Where do you sleep on an overnight rafting trip?

You sleep at a riverside campsite inside Browns Canyon National Monument, in a tent we provide or under the stars. The monument is an International Dark Sky Park, so clear nights are spectacular. Bring your own sleeping bag and pad or rent them from us. Guides handle the tents, chairs, tables and kitchen.

Pick Your Overnight

For a first overnight or a family trip, start with the Browns Canyon Overnight. Step up to Numbers and Browns for Class IV, or take on Pine Creek if your crew is ready for Class V. Have questions about dates, group size or gear rental? Contact our Buena Vista office, and we’ll help you lock in your 2027 overnight.