OVERNIGHT MULTI DAY RAFTING TRIPS IN COLORADO
Our Overnight and Multi-Day Rafting Trips in Colorado give you the chance to spend a few unforgettable days on the Arkansas River. Living on the river allows you to fully immerse yourself in the rhythm of this unique, pristine river, entertained by an abundance of thrilling rapids. Enjoy fun whitewater by day and unwind at beautiful and relaxing riverside camps by night with good food, campfires, and friendly and helpful Guides that make everything easy.
Overnight Raft Trip Prices:
Below is our 2025 pricing for multi-day rafting trips in Colorado. All necessary rafting equipment, food, sanitized wetsuit gear, and one large dry bag per person are included.
These prices do not include river use fees and an automatic 15% gratuity for your guides, for their hard work.
- 2 Day Trip: $649/Person
- 3 Day Trip: $895/Person
- 4 Day Trip: $1,139/Person
Multi-Day Whitewater Rafting Trips – Customized for You
What’s Included on Your Multi-Day Rafting Trip
Join us on the Arkansas River and leave the details to our expert team—everything you need for a seamless, comfortable adventure is included.
Expert Guides: Certified in Swiftwater Rescue & Wilderness First Aid
All Meals Riversides: From Day 1 lunch through final-day breakfast
Luxury Camp Setup: Tents, chairs, hot shower, and firewood delivered by our custom gear boat
Premium Gear: Dry bag, PFD, helmet, paddle, splash jacket, wetsuit & neoprene booties
Shuttle Service: Round-trip transport from our Buena Vista headquarters
Fishing Support: Rod rentals, flies & lures (Colorado license required. You can purchase a permit here.)
- Refreshments: Non-alcoholic drinks provided; guests 21+ may BYOB
Optional Rental Camping Gear (Feel free to bring your own):
Guests are welcome to bring any of their own gear, or rent it from us. Included in the cost of your trip are experienced, professional guides, all food and non-alcoholic drinks, one large dry bag per person, life jackets, helmets, paddles, and our sanitized wetsuit gear which includes wetsuits, splash jackets, and neoprene booties. Guests aged 21 years or older are welcome to bring alcoholic beverages and we will pack and deliver them safely to each camp in our gear raft. You are responsible for either renting or bringing your tents, sleeping bags, appropriate river attire (wetsuit, splash jackets and neoprene booties Included if needed), and dry clothes for camp.
Rental equipment prices are per trip regardless of trip length:
- 4 Person Tent: $40
- Sleeping Pad: $30
- Sleeping Bag (includes poly cotton liner, pillow and case): $40
- Additional Dry Bags (one dry bag per person included with the trip): $20
- Wet-suits: Free
- Splash Jacket: Free
- Neoprene Booties: Free
- Neoprene Gloves: $8
- Spin Fishing Rods: $30
- Fly Fishing Rods: $50
- Fishing Lures: $30
- Artificial Fishing Flies: $30
Group & Private Multi-Day Tours
Whether it’s a family reunion, corporate retreat, or special celebration, we tailor every detail to your group’s needs for an unforgettable Colorado river getaway.
Group Discounts: Special rates for parties of eight or more
Custom Itineraries: Choose 2–6 days, add hikes, fishing stops, or photo breaks
Private Raft Charters: Exclusive raft option for total privacy (small upcharge)
Dedicated Coordinator: Manages logistics, shuttle pickups from Breckenridge, Frisco, or Keystone
- Tailored Dining: Riverside menus adjusted for dietary needs and celebrations
Sample Itinerary for our 3 Day Overnight Rafting Trip in Colorado
2 or 4 Day trips have a similar customized itinerary, adjusted for trip length. Two options are available to accommodate your group with appropriate whitewater difficulty to include either advanced or intermediate whitewater
- 9:00 AM: Meet at our Buena Vista boathouse, check in, and pack your personal items into your large dry bag. Get fitted for a lifejacket, helmet, wetsuit, splash jacket, and river shoes.
- 9:45 AM: Shuttle 10 minutes to your launch site on the Arkansas River, amongst the towering Collegiate Peaks.
- 10:00 AM: Safety briefing and paddle practice with your experienced guides.
- 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Enjoy abundant whitewater of predetermined difficulty level for your group
- 12:30 PM: Stop to enjoy our Ultimate Fajita Feast riverside lunch.
- 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Continue downstream through more whitewater, keeping your eyes peeled for bighorn sheep and golden eagles.
- 3:30 PM: Arrive at your first remote camp. The custom gear boat (or gear Guide) has already delivered your luxury camp including chairs, tents, hot-shower system, and gourmet kitchen.
- 4:00 PM: Set up camp, change into dry clothes, munch on appetizers, enjoy a short hike or cast a line (Colorado fishing license required).
- 6:30 PM: Dinner cooked riverside—fresh, from-scratch meal prepared by your guides.
- 7:30 PM: Gather around the campfire for snacks, card games, and stargazing before drifting off to sleep to the soothing sound of the river.
- 7:30 AM: Fresh coffee and hot breakfast at camp.
- 9:00 AM: Break camp and load rafts for Day 2.
- 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Enjoy thrilling whitewater while taking in towering granite cliffs and keeping your eyes peeled for Rocky Mountain wildlife.
- 12:00 PM: Delicious riverside lunch.
- 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Continue to hone your paddling skills while taking on exciting whitewater and perhaps enjoying a side hike or interesting stop.
- 3:30 PM: Pull ashore at the second camp. Gear boat ready with fresh camp setup.
- 4:00 PM: Optional hot shower, relax, nibble on appetizers, or explore your surroundings.
- 6:30 PM: Chef’s choice dinner and dessert, followed by relaxing under the stars and fireside stories.
- 7:30 AM: Hearty hot breakfast and coffee.
- 9:00 AM: Break camp, stow gear, and launch for your third day on the Arkansas River.
- 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Last stretch of whitewater—enjoy your favorite rapids one last time.
- 12:00 PM: Farewell riverside lunch.
- 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Float through the final scenic landscape, spotting wildlife and soaking in mountain views.
- 3:00 PM: Take-out at a convenient river access point.
- 3:30 PM: Return to the boathouse—unpack your dry bag, grab a hot shower if you like, and review professional rafting photos before saying goodbye.
What to Expect on a Typical Overnight Raft Trip
Rapids & Scenery
Camp & Comforts
Meals
Our overnight whitewater rafting trips on the Arkansas River are amongst the best multi day rafting trips in the world. Our trips offer an abundance of exciting whitewater, a clean, clear river, incredible Rocky Mountain scenery, frequent wildlife spottings, and amazing campsites that allow you to appreciate the beauty of this pristine natural landscape.
At remote riverside camps, your Gear Guide arrives first with all of the amenities that allow for comfortable camping. This includes food and beverage coolers, camp chairs, tents, a hot-shower system, our secure and private toilet, guests’ personal dry bags, and a gourmet kitchen. Relax with games, a short hike, great food, camp fires, entertaining stories, or just sit back and soak in the beauty of the rugged natural surroundings, while your knowledgable Guides spoil you.
All meals are included from Day 1 lunch through your final-day lunch. Expect fresh, healthy, and hearty meals prepared by our skilled Guides in our gourmet camp kitchen. Breakfasts start with delicious coffee from fresh grounds from our coffee shop, and include both a hot meal and cold options like fruit and yogurt. Lunches are tasty, but also designed to be simpler to allow for a quick riverside set up and break down, while travelling downstream. Chef’s choice dinners include appetizers, a main course, and dessert. Our experience and efficient system help us deliver fresh from scratch meals cooked at camp on our 4 burner stove or baked in dutch ovens.
Guides
Safety, Comfort, & Gear
Water Levels & Seasonality
You will certainly appreciate our policy to only hire experienced guides when spending several days on our overnight rafting trips. Our expert guides are trained in Swiftwater Rescue and First Aid/ CPR or above, and handle everything from safety briefings to paddle practice. While very personable, they’re also masters at whipping up delectable riverside feasts, earning praise in reviews for safety, knowledge of the area, and excellent food.
All necessary rafting gear is included: dry bag, PFD, helmet, paddle, splash jacket, wetsuit, and neoprene booties, plus one large dry bag per person. Before launching, you’ll gear up at our Buena Vista boathouse, then receive a full safety briefing and paddle practice. You’ll certainly appreciate our organized selection of clean equipment to help you stay comfortable. When you return to our impressive facility, you can choose to take a hot shower, view your rafting photos available for purchase, enjoy a treat at our coffee shop, or even adjust back to society by staying at our onsite accommodation, A Riverhouse Lodge.
May through August offer the best multi-day rafting conditions on the Arkansas River, with high flows in early June and more moderate water levels both before and after that time. Depending on your group, we can recommend the right level of whitewater difficulty, length of trip, and time of summer for your perfect overnight rafting adventure. Water temperatures range from about 45°F in May to around 60°F by mid-August, with wetsuits provided.
Location & Meet-Up Point
Your multi-day rafting trip meets at our full service Buena Vista facility, which includes our office, check-in, and store, along with clean restrooms and showers, our popular coffee shop – Station 24 Cafe, and our comfortable guest lodge – A Riverhouse Lodge. Our convenient 6 acre riverside facility is perfectly located for both easy access and to minimize driving times to river access points with most trips within 20 minutes of our shop, or less.
Local Attractions & Post-Trip Activities
Extend your Buena Vista adventure and stay at A Riverhouse Lodge with these nearby highlights, perfect for relaxing or continuing the thrill on land.
- Cottonwood Hot Springs (10 min west): Natural geothermal pools along Cottonwood Creek
- Mount Princeton Hot Springs (20 min): Spa services, water slide, therapeutic pools & natural hot springs along Chalk Creek
- Downtown Buena Vista: Craft breweries, distilleries, farm-to-table restaurants, and local shops located 2 miles from our Buena Vista outpost
- Scenic Drives: Revel in the Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway that follows the Arkansas River and continues along Colorado’s tallest mountains while exploring old historic mining towns and dramatic Rocky Mountain scenery
- Trails: Unlimited hiking and mountain biking (bike rentals available) trails provide access to some very impressive backcountry
- Water Sports: Local lakes like clear Creek Reservoir and Twin Lakes Reservoir host water sports with rental equipment on site.
- A Riverhouse Lodge: Our very own, on-site riverside lodge set back from the highway for a quiet and comfortable stay to conveniently access all that the Buena Vista area has to offer (MOVE THIS TO THE TOP OF THE LIST)
- Motorized Off Road Vehicles: Explore the myriad of off road vehicle trails and rent a side by side, 4 wheeler, or motorcycle while in Buena Vista
- Rock Climbing: Enjoy world class technical rock climbing or just challenge yourself with rock scrambling
- Fishing: The Arkansas River offers some of the best Gold Medal trout fishing in Colorado. Many other area lakes are stocked and can be a lot of fun to fish. Ask about our Guided fishing tours, that includes equipment
Frequently Asked Questions:
All overnight rafting trips start at our 12847 US-24/285 headquarters in Buena Vista, CO, just 70 miles from Breckenridge via US-24.
May through August offers optimal water levels—high flows in early June and moderate Class III–IV rapids through July.
Expect to spot bighorn sheep, mule deer, otters, and a variety of birdlife—including golden eagles—along the Arkansas River banks.
Bring quick-dry clothing, a warm fleece or down layer for cool nights, sturdy water shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, and toiletries. We provide one large dry bag per person for your personal items.
While multi-day rafting involves consecutive days on the water, our expert guides tailor the difficulty to your group’s experience. Many first-time rafters feel comfortable on our Class III–IV Arkansas River sections with proper coaching.
Aim for moderate cardio fitness—think hiking or cycling—plus basic upper-body strength for paddling. Staying active before your trip will make multi-day whitewater rafting more enjoyable.
In addition to the complimentary wetsuits, PFDs, and helmets, you’ll need a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, camp shoes, and personal clothing layers. See our overnight packing list for full details.
Our multi-day rafting trips accommodate groups of up to 15 per raft, with additional rafts available. For private trips or custom group sizes, contact our Buena Vista office.
We offer full refunds for cancellations made at least 72 hours before your trip start date. Cancellations within 72 hours may incur fees, so please notify us as soon as possible.
Yes! Our on-site A Riverhouse Lodge on the Arkansas River is ideal for pre- or post-trip stays. Enjoy private baths, hot tubs, and views of the Collegiate Peaks just steps from your room.
River temperatures range from 45°F in May to around 60°F by mid-August. The typically warm and dry weather in the Arkansas River valley makes the water feel refreshing! If needed, take advantage of free rentals of our sanitized wetsuit gear, which includes wetsuits, splash jackets, and neoprene booties to keep you warm while on the river during your overnight rafting trip in Colorado.
Trips fill up quickly between May and August. We recommend booking 2–3 months in advance—especially for 3- and 4-day adventures—to secure your preferred dates.
Helpful Information about our Multi Day Raft Trips
COLORADO MULTI DAY RAFTING TRIPS REVIEWS
"We went on an overnight rafting trip through the Numbers and Browns Canyon...... Corey, Ross and Brody were some of the best guys I have ever met in my life! Not only are they top notch at guiding they are also amazing chefs!! We will definitely be back again!!"
