Browns Canyon National Monument
Browns Canyon National Monument
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Browns Canyon National Monument and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
48 within 5 kms
Attractions
31 within 10 kms
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
23 reviews
Excellent
13
Very good
6
Average
2
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Leo B
Saint Joseph, MO22 contributions
Sep 2022
Even thought the water level was a little low the rafting trip was fun through the Brown's Canyon National Monument.
Written 20 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RBlack7557
Timnath, CO84 contributions
Jun 2021
We stumbled across this place looking for a place to have a picnic. We have a Nat. Park pass so we didn't have to pay. There are several picnic tables with large rocks nearby. The grandkids had a good time climbing around on the rocks. We watched rafts and kayaks for a while and that was interesting. The surrounding scenery and the Arkansas River are pretty.
Written 8 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelWithSara
Mason City, IA56 contributions
Oct 2020
I'm not sure how one would know this was a national monument unless you looked at a map or a sign a few miles from the actual entrance, which is not well marked. We visited this national monument recently and were not sure if we were actually in the right spot. A little signage and information to help visitors would be helpful. We paid the fee to the national recreation area- and wondered why we did.
There are other national monuments in Colorado that are worth visiting, this is not one of them.
There are other national monuments in Colorado that are worth visiting, this is not one of them.
Written 11 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carmen T
Colorado Springs, CO88 contributions
Aug 2020
We recently took a guided kayak trip through Upper Brown's Canyon with RMOC. It was super fun, refreshing, exciting and a beautiful area. Interesting rock formations, wildflowers, amd crystal clear river.
Written 20 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LauraG050
San Diego, CA268 contributions
Sep 2019
Browns Canyon National Monument is a fairly new site, only created as a national monument in 2015. I'm trying to visit as many NPS sites as possible, but it was very difficult to find any information on this one. There is no visitor center. What information I found was on the Friends of Browns Canyon web site. The passport stamp is available at the Forest Service office in Salida (only open Monday-Friday), and at the Arkansas Headwaters Visitor Center, also in Salida (fortunately open 7 days a week). The only trail system is in the northwestern part of the park, but the trails don't seem to really go into the canyon at all, so I don't feel like I visited Browns "Canyon". We saw a few rock formations on our hike on the "Bench Trail", but a lot of the trail was on grassland looking up at the hills, rather than being in the hills. It was a nice hike to an overlook of the Arkansas River, but there was really nothing very special about the area. If you want to hike, program your GPS to find the Ruby Mountain Campground. Then go through the campground to the parking area for the trailhead. There's an outhouse there, and a sign with information on the trails. The first trail junction is confusing - there's no names on the sign, just the number of the Turret Trail, which is 6045. You want to take the left fork to stay on the Turret Trail. After that the signs were better, though there were still a couple of places where there were use trails that would have put us onto private property, and it wasn't always immediately obvious which way we should go. Honestly there are many much more interesting and scenic places to visit in Colorado.
Written 6 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AMsays
Thornhill, Canada4,056 contributions
Oct 2018
This park, was designated a National Monument by Obama in 2015 to afford protection and as a new park, it is a little rough around the edges. Dirt road to get in from the Salida side after not much signage. Once in, I found it very quiet in September - which was unexpected.
Some trails lead from the parking lot. I took the Ruby Mountain Trailhead - 2.7 miles -. strenuous and again a little rough, following the dry creek bed of Cottonwood Creek to the Arkansas River.. The views of the landscape were amazing. But, I never got to the monument....
Browns Canyon is the most popular destination for whitewater rafting in the country, It is also renowned for its fishing, hiking and mountain biking.
Some trails lead from the parking lot. I took the Ruby Mountain Trailhead - 2.7 miles -. strenuous and again a little rough, following the dry creek bed of Cottonwood Creek to the Arkansas River.. The views of the landscape were amazing. But, I never got to the monument....
Browns Canyon is the most popular destination for whitewater rafting in the country, It is also renowned for its fishing, hiking and mountain biking.
Written 29 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lonestranger54
Colorado Springs, CO16 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
Very scenic. Parking lot was too crowded. Almost couldn't park. Road in was rough and not well maintained.
Written 13 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vegas T
Salida, CO44 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
We had a great self guided hike/swim. The trail meanders along the Arkansas river with some gravel beach areas. The trails also go up into the hills as well. Dog friendly, some trails bike is ok, bouldering, and running. Gravely and slippery in areas hiking shoes or boots.
Written 30 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guide279811
3 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
Had our daughter and grandsons on a half day raft trip with Noahs Ark Rafting today. The whole crew were all very professional and we were so happy with our guide, Parker, who made the trip as safe and fun as possible. So worth it! We’d highly recommend them to others!
Written 19 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic251 contributions
Jul 2017
Believe it is the number one stretch for rafting and it is sufficiently exciting for just about anyone. There are some exceptional rafting companies, recommend smaller operations that have been there for a long while.
Written 7 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
emholly
Southeastern Wisconsin152 contributions
Is there a headquarters location or visitors center?
cpbeegle
Denver, CO
Does this National Monument have a visitor center for park cancellations?
mamakl29
Houston, TX3 contributions
Where can I make reservations to camp at Browns Canyon National Monument? Is that even possible?
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingBROWNS CANYON NATIONAL MONUMENT: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Browns Canyon National Monument
- Hotels near Browns Canyon National Monument:
- (0.05 km) Welcome to the HJP Suite at the Historic Palace Hotel Condo's!
- (0.15 km) Tenderfoot Cottage Is A Jewel Located In Downtown Salida.
- (0.12 km) Condo "the Biker" on the Arkansas river in Salida's Historic District
- (0.08 km) Frontside Hacienda In Downtown Salida! Ark River Haciendas. STR #012962
- (0.09 km) Riverside Hacienda Downtown Salida! Hot tub. Ark River Haciendas #0251
- Restaurants near Browns Canyon National Monument:
- (0.17 km) Currents
- (0.17 km) Boathouse Cantina
- (0.15 km) Cafe Dawn
- (0.23 km) Sweetie's Sandwich Shop
- (0.17 km) Pizza Rio