Access Site
CO
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Arkansas River • Chalk Creek • Little Cottonwood Creek • Middle Cottonwood Creek
Source: colorado_parks_and_wildlife Updated 1 year ago
City: Nathrop, CO
County: Chaffee County
Type: Boat Ramp
Location: 38.75231280, -106.07086273
Air Temp: --
Location
Live Webcam
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Real-time data from USGS Water Services
Whitewater Runs on Arkansas River
16 runs (9 nearby)Difficulty Classes
I Easy
II Novice
III Intermediate
IV Advanced
V Expert/Extreme
VI Unrunnable
Position relative to this access site:
Put-in at this location
This location is on the run
Take-out at this location
Downstream from here Upstream from here
Downstream from here Upstream from here
III
Put-in at this location
05. Fisherman's Bridge access to Stone Bridge access
13.0 mi
31 ft/mi
III
Take-out at this location
04. Buena Vista to Fisherman's Bridge
6.7 mi
II-III
Downstream from here (9.7 mi to put-in)
06. Stone Bridge to Salida
9.5 mi
II(III)
Downstream from here (15.9 mi to put-in)
07. Salida to Rincon
10.0 mi
II-III
Downstream from here (24.0 mi to put-in)
08. Rincon to Pinnacle Rock
19.5 mi
III
Downstream from here (39.5 mi to put-in)
09. Pinnacle Rock Launch to Parkdale Launch
17.2 mi
33 ft/mi
III
Upstream from here (7.5 mi from take-out)
03. Railroad Bridge Launch to Buena Vista
6.7 mi
44 ft/mi
IV
Upstream from here (13.7 mi from take-out)
02. Numbers Launch to Railroad Bridge Launch
6.4 mi
71 ft/mi
IV-V
Upstream from here (19.7 mi from take-out)
01. Granite to Numbers Launch Site
5.1 mi
58 ft/mi
These whitewater runs are on the same river but located more than 50 miles from this access site.
III-IV(V)
50 mi away
10. Parkdale Launch to Canon City (Royal Gorge)
10.0 mi
46 ft/mi
I-II
61 mi away
11. Centennial Park to Mackenzie Takeout
4.0 mi
I
66 mi away
12. MacKenzie Bridge to Florence River Park
6.8 mi
I
73 mi away
13. Florence to Pueblo Reservoir
18.0 mi
I
99 mi away
14. State Park to Play Park
7.3 mi
II+
105 mi away
15. W 4th Ave Bridge to S Union Ave Bridge
0.5 mi
III
719 mi away
Tulsa Wave (PnP)
0.1 mi
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater
About This Access Site
The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area provides public access to the mighty Arkansas River near the town of Nathrop, Colorado. This boat ramp offers a convenient put-in point for kayakers, canoeists, and small motorized boats to explore the upper reaches of this major river system.
The Arkansas River originates high in the Rocky Mountains and flows over 1,200 miles before reaching the Mississippi. At this access site, the river is considered a major stream, with an average flow of over 51,000 cubic feet per second and an impressive 9,500-foot total elevation drop from source to mouth. Boaters should be prepared for a steadily flowing, moderately gradient river section, with an average slope of 7.9 feet per mile.
Nearby recreation areas like Browns Canyon National Monument provide ample opportunities for scenic floats, fishing, and wildlife viewing along the Arkansas River corridor. Paddlers and boaters should check for any current access restrictions or construction projects that may impact their plans before visiting this site.
The Arkansas River originates high in the Rocky Mountains and flows over 1,200 miles before reaching the Mississippi. At this access site, the river is considered a major stream, with an average flow of over 51,000 cubic feet per second and an impressive 9,500-foot total elevation drop from source to mouth. Boaters should be prepared for a steadily flowing, moderately gradient river section, with an average slope of 7.9 feet per mile.
Nearby recreation areas like Browns Canyon National Monument provide ample opportunities for scenic floats, fishing, and wildlife viewing along the Arkansas River corridor. Paddlers and boaters should check for any current access restrictions or construction projects that may impact their plans before visiting this site.
Nearby Recreation Areas
Browns Canyon National Monument
Located within
PSICC
Located within