JJ & Sarah’s Guide to Things to Do in BV

Our property is located about 20 minutes from two great hot springs options described below. We provide beach towels in our guest spaces.

Whitewater rafting is generally available from spring through late summer (depending on water flows). The Browns Canyon stretch of the Arkansas River is a National Monument and a popular leg of local rafting tours. The Milk Run is another popular leg for folks who are looking for the milder side of adventure. There are put ins for commercial rafting trips just blocks from our property and throughout the summer we you'll see rafters regularly floating by as you walk along the river trail near our property.

If you are already a boater, you know more about this than we do. If you are coming here to learn and try it out, below are some places that can help you get started with renting gear and possibly some lessons or guided trips too. It is possible if you are very fit to walk from our property to the river whilst carrying a kayak, or paddleboard to try surfing the local playwaves (staircase wave is a spot where a lot of beginners get started). If you are new to paddleboarding you're best bet is to head to Twin Lakes or Cottonwood Lake to try it out, rather than starting in the river. You can also try it much closer to town at our little town pond at McPhelmy Park (locally known as "Pond Park") - at the NW corner of US HWY 24 and Main St.

Trails on the east side of the Arkansas River, accessible from trailheads just a few minutes walk from our property, are often useable year round. It is always a good idea to check on conditions just prior to your travels. For example, guests who plan to mountain bike in January sometimes decide to bring skis instead of bikes, and vice versa, depending on current weather conditions. The Arkansas River Trail, Barbara Whipple Trail and Midland Trail combine to form a network of trails that provide everything from a mellow jaunt along the river, to single track trails up to the ridgeline with stunning views of the 14ers across the valley. The USFS Four Mile Travel Management Area just a few miles north of town is also very popular for mountain biking. http://www.buenavistarec.com/trails/ https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recarea/?recid=21414

We have had quite a few guests indicate that they had a great time (with success) just along the river between the "Staircase play wave" and the "Downtown play wave" (adjacent to the Surf Hotel), just a short walk from our property. One 11 year old guest caught her first rainbow trout, a 21"-er, along the river just east of the Boulder Garden park near our property! There are also local fishing guides and maps in the visitor literature in our space.