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 (computed from the boundary polygon) |
| National Conservation Lands id | NLCS000321 |
| Center point | 38.7055, -106.0188 |
| 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.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 7 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- WildfireWillow
43 mi from the center point · 7,389 acres · 80% contained
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
- 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
- 6.9 miChaffee County Courthouse and Jail Buildings ↗Buena Vista, CO
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Browns Canyon National Monument?
21,709 acres, measured from the published boundary polygon. The agency’s own figure can differ where the boundary includes water or inholdings.
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?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Bassam Guard Station, 1.1 miles out. 7 in all are within ten miles. Rules vary by unit; the BLM page has the current camping rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Browns Canyon National Monument?
A point inside the boundary is at 38.706, -106.019. 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?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Willow at 43 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Browns Canyon National Monument?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 20 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Browns Canyon National Monument?
24 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Bridge over Arkansas River and Maxwell Park School.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name: the BLM National Conservation Lands layer.
- States: computed by intersecting the boundary with Census state polygons; a state is listed when it holds at least one percent of the area.
- 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.