Browns Canyon National Monument
Browns Canyon National Monument is a 21,586 acres (87 km2) national monument in Chaffee County, Colorado, that was designated as such by President Barack Obama under the Antiquities Act on February 19, 2015. The site will be centered along the Arkansas River between Buena Vista and Salida. Browns Canyon is the most popular destination for whitewater rafting in the country, and is also known for its fishing and hiking. The monument will provide habitat protection for bighorn sheep, peregrine falcons, elk, and golden eagles.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
| Designation | National Monument |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | Colorado |
| Size | 21,709 acres |
| National Conservation Lands id | NLCS000321 |
| Center point | 38.71° N, 106.02° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 20) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 5 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedDuck Blind Rx
11 mi from the center point · 2 acres
- PrescribedCanadian Goose Rx
11 mi from the center point · 1 acre
- PrescribedNorth Trout Creek Rx
11 mi from the center point
- PrescribedRx - Hutchinson Pile Burn
13 mi from the center point
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 1.4 miGas Creek School ↗Nathrop, CO
- 4.4 miBridge over Arkansas River ↗Buena Vista, CO
- 5 miMaxwell Park School ↗Buena Vista, CO
- 5.8 mi
- 6.1 miPedro--Botz House ↗Salida, CO
- 6.8 miFay, William and Anna, House ↗Buena Vista, CO
- 6.8 miGrace Episcopal Church ↗Buena Vista, CO
- 6.8 miBuena Vista Ranger Station ↗Buena Vista, CO
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Browns Canyon National Monument?
21,709 acres.
Source: How acreage is computed
Who manages Browns Canyon National Monument?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Bureau of Land Management
What state is Browns Canyon National Monument in?
Colorado.
Source: How states are assigned
Can I camp at Browns Canyon National Monument?
Rules vary by unit. The BLM page has the current camping rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Browns Canyon National Monument?
A point inside the boundary is at 38.706° N, 106.019° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Bureau of Land Management
Is there a fire near Browns Canyon National Monument right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Duck Blind Rx at 11 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Browns Canyon National Monument?
The National Register has 26 listings within 15 miles, including Gas Creek School and Bridge over Arkansas River.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name: the BLM National Conservation Lands layer.
- States and territories: computed by intersecting the boundary with Census state polygons and coarse outlines of the territories and outlying islands. A place is listed when it holds at least one percent of the area. A boundary that touches no outline is listed under the nearest one.
- Acreage: geodesic area of the published polygon. The agency’s official acreage can differ where the boundary includes water, easements or inholdings.
- Description: Browns Canyon National Monument on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. The article was accepted because its title contains this unit’s name.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.