Brown's Canyon National Monument, established in 2015, protects 21,000 acres of granite canyon, high-desert sage, and cottonwood riparian corridors along the Arkansas River south of Buena Vista. The monument encompasses some of the most dramatic scenery in the Arkansas River Valley, with canyon walls rising hundreds of feet above the whitewater below.
Hiking trails range from easy riverside walks to more demanding routes along the canyon rim. The Cottonwood Creek Trail offers a good introduction to the monument's terrain without committing to the full canyon circuit. Wildlife in the monument includes bighorn sheep, mule deer, black bears, and golden eagles — the canyon walls and talus slopes provide ideal habitat. Permits are not required for day hiking, and several access points exist along the road between Buena Vista and Salida.