Buena Vista tours, things to do and tickets

The Lost Canyon Zipline Tour is a true Colorado eco-adventure. Not only will you experience heart-pounding, leg-shaking thrills as you soar across ancient canyons, but you’ll learn about the history, flora, and fauna of this beautiful, fascinating area.

ONE OF THE 6 BEST ZIP LINE TOURS IN THE USA – Outside Magazine
TOP 10 ZIPLINE ATTRACTIONS IN AMERICA! – USA Today
TOP 10 ZIP LINES IN THE WORLD – National Geographic Traveler Blog
TOP 20 ADVENTURE VACATION DESTINATIONS ON THE CONTINENT – Men’s Fitness Magazine

So come and zipline with our friendly guides and experience a Colorado Rocky Mountain adventure that we hope to make the highlight of your vacation! Zip lining is really “no sweat adrenaline.” While zip lining looks extreme, it is actually relatively easy to do.

Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River is our most popular trip! The unique combination of lots of exciting whitewater, spectacular canyon scenery, great mountain views of some of Colorado’s highest mountains and opportunities to spot wildlife make this the ideal raft trip. Exciting enough for seasoned paddlers, but not too scary for first-timers. You will want to bring your friends and family for epic rapids such as Pinball, Zoom Flume, and Big Drop!

Enjoy the experience of a lifetime with family friendly Colorado rafting through Browns Canyon National Monument on the Arkansas River. Exciting class III-IV rapids intermixed with calm water in between make Browns Canyon rafting great for beginners and experts alike.

Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River is our most popular trip! This in an intermediate trip but also not too scary for first-timers. The unique combination of lots of exciting whitewater, spectacular canyon scenery, great mountain views of some of Colorado’s highest mountains and opportunities to spot wildlife make this the ideal raft trip.

Please note that we offer over 20 trips on 4 rivers. However, not all trips are able to be booked through Trip Advisor. Please contact us directly for more detailed information about the many whitewater raft trips that we offer.

THE #1 RANKED WALKING TOUR COMPANY IN COLORADO

Embark on a chilling journey into the haunted streets of Salida, guided by knowledgeable and captivating storytellers in their hauntingly authentic costumes.

Prepare to be mesmerized by our award-winning tour, consistently receiving glowing 5-star reviews on every reputable travel platform.

​Brace yourself for an unforgettable experience as we unveil spine-tingling tales that might linger in your thoughts long after the tour ends.

Disclaimer: Spirits have been known to follow our guests home. Be prepared!

​Delve into the depths of 21 riveting stories curated to send shivers down your spine, all within the span of an exhilarating 90 minutes.

Hear the chilling accounts of haunting spirits that frequent an old mortuary, their ethereal presence leaving an indelible mark on the location's history.

PG-13 tour. Not recommended for sensitive younger children.

Embark on this half day rafting trip through Browns Canyon National Monument. Great class III (beginner/intermediate) adventure for the entire family. Choose between either morning or afternoon trips.

Get an introduction to rafting on this 1-hour family friendly rafting trip. Enjoy impressive mountain views, easy splashes, and soul-soothing current. This gentle floating adventure is great for children over the age of two years. 

Please note: This in one hour on the water!

 

Why not make the most of your trip and enjoy a package day to excite the senses! Why just enjoy whitewater rafting when you can add on an exciting zipline tour in one of the most beautiful, scenic places imaginable. On this family rafting & zipline tour you will start your day with exciting whitewater followed by a zipline tour that swoops by towering lodge pole pines through the beautiful Colorado Mountains!

THE #1 RANKED WALKING TOUR COMPANY IN COLORADO

Step into the untamed world of historic Salida with our small-group tour. Immerse yourself in the gritty past, unravel the secrets of our unruly society, and uncover architectural marvels with your knowledgeable guide.

Prepare to be enthralled by captivating narratives that bring Salida's thrilling and at times ruthless history to life.

​Discover the story behind Salida's unique pronunciation, Sah-LIE-Dah, not Sah-LEE-Dah. Uncover the transformation from the original name, South Arkansas, to the Salida we know today.

Brace yourself for tales of knife fights, brutal beatings, and the chilling murder of a local Marshal that shaped the city's character.

​Indulge your curiosity in the bawdy brothel district. Wander through the very spots where horrific crimes unfolded and where resilient working women once thrived. Experience firsthand the living remnants of a bygone era that still echo throughout Salida's streets.

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

Fat tire E-Bikes(electric bicycles) are an awesome way to have fun exploring the Buena Vista, CO area. They level the playing field for all in your group and help to overcome the altitude and wind issues in this area. BV eBikes are the eBike experts in Chaffee County CO. We can accommodate E-Bike rental groups of up to 8 guests. With our expertise guests will be directed out to beautiful Cottonwood Lake, or head out through the historic Midland Rail Tunnels and along the Arkansas River. If you want to have a lot of fun in BV, you need to book a ride with us!

Experience 3 hours of clear, crisp water crashing through the Granite Gorge. This half-day adventure is led by a local guide and all boating equipment such as rain gear, drinking water and personal flotation device is included.

A Via Ferrata, which means “iron way” in Italian, is a method of mountaineering & rock climbing that’s been used in Europe for centuries. Via Ferrata courses use a combination of ladders, rungs, rails, cables and bridges to aid in moving across and up a cliff face. The Iron Way in Idaho Springs is an assisted rock climbing guided tour where guests clip into cables that run along the side of a cliff. They then move along a designated path of iron rungs and bridges to move across, and along the way they will be required to clip in and out of the cable to progress through the course. This is made possible through an advanced internal locking system in the carabiners. Each guest will have 2 carabiners connected to bungee-style lanyards on their harness. The internal locking system makes it impossible to clip out of both at the same time, insuring that climbers are connected to the cable of the course at all times.

A wonderful family friendly white water rafting trip in Colorado! Splash, swim, and take in the stunning views while a professional river guide rows you down the river without the interruption of paddling (unless of course, you want to paddle)! Enjoy bouncy wave trains, man made white water park, and wildlife sightings on this calm and picturesque section suitable for children as young as 4.

Situated in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the Arkansas River threads its way through a vacationer's paradise. From the river's source in the beautiful Arkansas Valley with dramatic 14,000 foot peaks to the bottom of the Royal Gorge, the Arkansas has it all. This trip includes 6 hours of clear, crisp water crashing through the Granite Gorge, a river guide and all boating equipment: rain gear, drinking water and personal floatation device. Lunch is also provided on this full day adventure.

Rafting Browns Canyon Colorado: the ultimate Colorado river rafting experience! The full day Browns Canyon Sizzler is a great trip for the whole family – a great option for first-time rafters and a can't-miss for experienced paddlers.  This trip offers a classic white water rafting trip in one action-packed day. A hot chicken fajita lunch is provided riverside halfway through the trip and the additional rapids make the Browns Canyon Sizzler the best option for a one-day Colorado adventure.

Prior to entering the Canyon Challenge Course, guests are fitted with gear, given a safety briefing and instructions, and then off they go! Guests begin on easy courses and graduate to more challenging routes. Once a course is completed, guests can proceed to more challenging courses.
The Canyon Aerial Course was designed and built by Swiss Alpine engineers to industry standards, including those of the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) as well as the specifications and safety standards of the state of Colorado. Participants are secured throughout their experience to the life safety systems using the Bornack Smart Safe Belay (SSB) lanyard system which prevents participants from detaching from the system during transfers from one element to the next while providing participants the freedom to choose their route and move at their own pace. Staff are positioned nearby to offer encouragement and assist if needed.

Looking for that true “Colorado Rocky Mountain high”?  The Numbers section of the Arkansas River got its name in the late 1800s by local miners who viewed the rapids as non-navigable landmarks. They were so intimidated that they just numbered the rapids instead of naming them.  If you are an experienced rafter looking to take it to the next level or an adventurous beginner up for a new challenge, the Numbers rafting trips are some of the best Arkansas River white water rafting trips around!

Experience a family-friendly, class II section of the Arkansas River on a half-day or full-day rafting adventure! This is the perfect section for beginners of all ages.

COVID 19 Pre-trip screening for all guests: MASKS are required during transportation. This DAILY trip includes 14 miles and 4 hours of clear, crisp Class II-III+ whitewater crashing through the Browns Canyon National Monument. We have added 6 more miles to make this the most rapids in a 3/4 day no lunch adventure. A professional river guide and all boating equipment: splash jackets, drinking water, and PFD, personal floatation device. Bring your personal water bottle, noncotton clothing, secure footwear or rentals of wetsuits and boots available to reserve. Situated in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the Arkansas River's 145 miles, threads its way through a vacationer's paradise. From the river's source in the beautiful Arkansas Valley with dramatic 14,000-foot peaks to the bottom of the Royal Gorge, Arkansas River has it all.