Browns Canyon - Overnight

Great question! Check out our guide to the seasonality of Colorado rivers for an overview of when rivers are running, difficulty, locations and more.

We take first-time rafters down our rivers all the time! This trip is a great option for first timers, and a thorough safety orientation is always provided before you embark on your trip.

Overnight trips require a minimum of 6 persons.

Clothing

• Hat for sun protection
• Poly-pro or synthetic layers (top & bottoms)
• Nylon/synthetic shorts or swimsuit – quick-drying
• Nylon or synthetic shirt (Avoid cotton)
• Short-sleeved shirt
• Long-sleeved shirts (one light, one warm)
• Warm jacket or windproof or fleece (water resistant)
• Rain parka and pants (DVK can provide by arrangement)
• Shorts
• Long pants (one lightweight pair to block the sun, one fleece, synthetic or wool/warm pair for night)
• Stocking cap or wool, fleece type beanie

Footwear

• Watersport shoes/sandals with secure straps (Teva, Chaco, Keen style)
• Wool or poly-pro socks in shoes or sandals for cold water (neoprene boots available to rent)
• Camp shoes or lightweight hiking shoes (NO heavy boots)

Cold Weather Gear

• Long john wetsuit and booties (cold months May, June, Sept or Class IV+ trips recommended; see form above for rental rates)

Sleep Gear

• Tent – lightweight with fly-floor with a ground sheet (DVK rentals; 2-3 person)
• Sleeping pad – inflatable backpack therm-a-rest or equivalent (DVK rents deluxe Paco Pads and Therma-rests)
• Sleeping bag – 3-season, lightweight, compact, synthetic holo-fill (Down is not ideal for water sports)

Sun and Skin Protection

• Sunglasses with retainer strap
• Sunscreen and/or zinc
• Lip balm with sunscreen

Personal Items

• Personal toiletries
• Insect repellant
• Prescription medications
• Retainer strap for prescription glasses
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Biodegradable soap & small camp towel

Optional Comfort Items & Extras

• Camp chair (Example: Crazy Creek style compact only; DVK provides low river chairs for guests)
• Waterproof camera or camera with waterproof case (not provided by DVK)
• Binoculars (waterproof case recommended; Pelican boxes suggested)
• Reading materials: good book, sketchbook, bird book, flora/fauna book (No electronic items)

Food & Drinks

• Water bottle
• Personal drinks (see below)

You're welcome to bring alcohol in cans and unbreakable containers on overnight trips for camp. A glass of wine is complimentary with dinners. Our guides can refuse to let you participate in a trip if your safety is at risk due to alcohol or drugs.

Though we carry ample supplies of juices, coffee, tea and hot chocolate we encourage you to bring your own extra soda or beer. You can arrange for us to pick up specific beverages for you prior to the trip or bring your own before you meet us at the DVK base. Any liquids you bring must be in cans or unbreakable containers, such as plastic containers of liquor, canned beer, or wine coolers. No glass, please! 

Limited complimentary wine with dinners and some soft drinks will be provided, although if you prefer a certain soda or NO soft drinks, please let us know before your trip. You will have the option to add additoinal alcoholic beverages to your tab - contact the outfitter prior to departure to arrange.

Please note: Alcohol is for the evening at camp only, and will not be available during lunches.

No gear? No worries! We offer rental equipment in case you don’t have camping gear, don’t want to bring yours, or just want to try out something new.

• Gear We Rent:
• Tent – 2-3 person, lightweight with fly-floor with groundsheet
• Sleeping pad – deluxe Paco Pads and Therma-rests
• Sleeping bag – 3-season, lightweight, compact, synthetic bags
• Long John Wetsuits
• Neoprene Boots
• Personal Floatation Device
• Helmets

If you'd like to rent gear for your multi-day trip, reserve your rentals online here after you've reserved the rafting trip.

Want to purchase gear for your trip? You can also check out:

• Northwest River Supplies for all your boating needs!
• Clavey Equipment – Rafting & Boating Equipment

On overnight trips, all on-river meals are provided, beginning with lunch the first day and ending with lunch the last day. The food is fresh and hearty and the guides will prepare it for you.

Dinner: A typical dinner menu may include as a main course such as BBQ steak, baked fish, teriyaki chicken, or a combination of entrees. You can also expect fresh vegetables and salads, Dutch-oven desserts or breads, hors d'oeuvres, fresh fruits, fruit juices, coffee, tea and a complimentary glass of wine with dinner.

Lunch: All lunches are buffet style with a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, fruit, cheeses, sliced meats, nuts and juices or sodas.

Breakfast: Breakfast typically includes fresh fruit juice, eggs in all styles, special pancakes, French toast, melons, fruit, cereals with milk, sausage, bacon, coffee, tea, hot chocolate.

Yes, we can easily accommodate most allergies and dietary restrictions.

We love to plan special surprises for birthdays and anniversaries, so let us know before your trip who is having a special day and the occasion and we will help plan a terrific celebration.

Gratuities are not included in your trip cost. While tipping is done at your discretion, tipping is one of the gauges we use in terms of customer satisfaction. Your guides work hard to get you down the river safely and prepare amazing meals for you at camp, so gratuity is greatly appreciated. If you are ever not satisfied, please let us know so that we can adjust our expeditions in the future.

You have a choice. We offer paddle boat crews where four to seven people join a guide and paddle down the river. Alternately, you may enjoy the ride as a passenger!

No, whitewater rapids are encountered as the river descends or twists between stretches of calm water. On many rivers, the extent of flatwater versus rapids depends on the gradient of the river. Also, depending on the time of year and snowpack run-off each season, water flow and the size of a river’s rapids will be lower or higher.

Many of our guests cannot swim. We supply the best Type 5 U.S. Coast guard PFDs (personal flotation devices) which keep you bouncing above the waves if you should for some reason fall out of your boat.

Yes, there will be photos available for purchase through our photo partner, Whitewater Photography, after the trip.

Whether you come alone or bring 25 friends, we can accommodate you on a trip. We are limited to maximum group sizes on some rivers, but on many others there is no issue with a larger party.

We have long-standing relationships with medical support teams serving our rivers and fortunately, rarely have had to rely on them. Our staff is professionals with trip leaders qualified EMTs, and all staff has first aid and CPR certifications. DVK requires all guides to be certified Swiftwater Rescue Technicians.

We have long-standing relationships with medical support teams serving our rivers and fortunately, rarely have had to rely on them. Please call us for specific information about the local facilities for your river trip. Our staff is professionals with trip leaders qualified EMTs, and all staff has first aid and CPR certifications. DVK requires all guides to be certified Swiftwater Rescue Technicians.

Mother Nature is still in control out West, so please realize that we cannot control her weather patterns or the water flows. But we can recommend all things to make your trip a well-prepared and comfortable experience regardless of the changes that may occur. We reserve the right to change river sections, move to adjacent rivers, or postpone the trip if water levels, weather conditions, or circumstances arise beyond our control. The client's river skills and abilities can also determine whether a particular river or trip is substituted.