Browns Canyon National Monument was designated in 2015 to protect one of Colorado’s most cherished stretches of river and surrounding public lands. Flowing between Buena Vista and Salida, the Arkansas River through Browns Canyon offers some of the most popular whitewater in the nation—combining exhilarating rapids with sweeping granite walls, piñon-juniper forests, and wildlife-rich riparian habitat. For decades, this section of the Arkansas had been recognized as a special place deserving protection, but proposals for development and resource extraction repeatedly threatened its scenic and recreational values.
American Whitewater played an important role in the effort to secure permanent protection for Browns Canyon. Building on our long history of advocacy for the Arkansas River and our participation in the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area management planning process, we worked alongside local outfitters, conservation partners, and Colorado’s boating community to highlight the river’s recreational importance. We provided data and public testimony demonstrating that recreation on the Arkansas River supports local economies and depends on maintaining clean water, healthy ecosystems, and a free-flowing river corridor.
The designation of Browns Canyon National Monument by presidential proclamation marked a major victory for the whitewater community and for all who value Colorado’s public lands. Today, American Whitewater continues to engage in management planning for the monument to ensure that river access, recreation opportunities, and the outstanding scenic and ecological values that make Browns Canyon special are protected for future generations.