ITINERARY
NUMBERS ARKANSAS RIVER

This rafting trip departs daily May-September from our River Runners Rafting Resort in Buena Vista, Colorado. You must arrive at River Runners 45 minutes prior to trip departure. You must be ready 15 minutes prior to your departure time for a safety orientation. When you arrive please park your vehicle and check in at our front office. At our office and retail store you will have the opportunity to use the restrooms, shop for light snacks and beverages that you may enjoy on your trip.

Once you meet your guide, he/she will fit you with a life jacket, helmet and discuss river safety and guidelines. River gear such as wetsuits and splash tops are available for rent and is usually only necessary if in-climate weather is present.

A short shuttle ride in one of our River Runner vans to the put in only takes about 15 minutes. Your guides will unload the boats and launch you on the river.

A brief warm up is all you have before entering the boulder field of rapid "Number One". Paddle rafts are the only option in this tight technical stretch, so everyone must be able to paddle and contribute. These paddle rafts will hold 5 to 7 people plus your professional river guide. If you have a small group, you can choose to participate on a "thrill raft" which is limited to 4 people plus your river guide providing more maneuverability through the rapids!  

Our Numbers full day is a 21-mile stretch and in those 21 miles paddlers will face more than 50 rapids, over fifteen of which are rated class 4 or 5.   After making it through the Numbers we will stop on the river and your river guides will prepare a well earned homemade lunch while you finally have a chance to dry off.

After lunch we will continue downstream on the Arkansas River through a section known as the "Narrows". Right off the bat is the class IV section called "Mile Long." This rapid is a boulder field that goes on and on so be ready to paddle! After negotiating mile-long rapids you will have many more challenges like "Frog Rock' and "Whitehorse."   You will raft the narrowest point on the river, the "Narrows" which is only twelve feet wide! Continue downstream through "House Rock" and into the Buena Vista Town Run, which has rapids like "Cottonwood" and the eight -foot waterfall drop known as "Silver Bullet." In high water, we cross under the Johnson Village Bridge and enter the lazy section called the "Milk Run" with fun "wave trains" and world-class views of the 14,000-foot Collegiate Peaks. The waters of the "Milk Run" return you right to where you started, at our Rafting Resort at Fisherman's Bridge. Our Numbers full day has spanned four stretches of river, two climate zones, and over 20 miles; we hope you will enjoy a well-earned cold beverage of your preference from our river shop at Fisherman's Bridge!

At our Rafting Resort, enjoy a beverage or light snack while viewing a slide show of professional photographs of your trip. Photos are available for purchase. You may purchase a print or CDROM of all your photographs. Souvenirs are available for purchase; this is the world's largest selection of River Runners souvenirs. Our location allows for a unique experience offered by no other outfitter.   Hot showers are complementary to our guests. On site recreational opportunities include volleyball, horseshoes, and river fishing. Our retail shop offers snacks, ice cream, refreshments and souvenirs.