Access Site
CO
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Source: colorado_parks_and_wildlife Updated 1 year ago
City: Cotopaxi, CO
County: Fremont County
Type: Boat Ramp
Location: 38.39097664, -105.65192226
Air Temp: --
Location
Live Webcam
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Real-time data from USGS Water Services
Whitewater Runs on Arkansas River
16 runs (11 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
09. Pinnacle Rock Launch to Parkdale Launch
17.2 mi
33 ft/mi
II-III
Take-out at this location
08. Rincon to Pinnacle Rock
19.5 mi
III-IV(V)
Downstream from here (19.2 mi to put-in)
10. Parkdale Launch to Canon City (Royal Gorge)
10.0 mi
46 ft/mi
I-II
Downstream from here (28.4 mi to put-in)
11. Centennial Park to Mackenzie Takeout
4.0 mi
I
Downstream from here (32.7 mi to put-in)
12. MacKenzie Bridge to Florence River Park
6.8 mi
I
Downstream from here (40.0 mi to put-in)
13. Florence to Pueblo Reservoir
18.0 mi
II(III)
Upstream from here (15.8 mi from take-out)
07. Salida to Rincon
10.0 mi
II-III
Upstream from here (25.4 mi from take-out)
06. Stone Bridge to Salida
9.5 mi
III
Upstream from here (32.2 mi from take-out)
05. Fisherman's Bridge access to Stone Bridge access
13.0 mi
31 ft/mi
III
Upstream from here (40.0 mi from take-out)
04. Buena Vista to Fisherman's Bridge
6.7 mi
III
Upstream from here (45.2 mi from take-out)
03. Railroad Bridge Launch to Buena Vista
6.7 mi
44 ft/mi
These whitewater runs are on the same river but located more than 50 miles from this access site.
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater
About This Access Site
The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area in Cotopaxi, Colorado provides public access to the Arkansas River, a major river system in the western United States. The site features a boat ramp that can accommodate kayaks, canoes, and small motorized boats.
The Arkansas River is a substantial waterway, running over 1,200 miles and draining an area of nearly 134,000 square miles. It has an average flow of over 51,000 cubic feet per second and an average gradient of 7.9 feet per mile, making it a popular destination for whitewater enthusiasts. Downstream, the river enters the challenging Royal Gorge, a Class V whitewater section, but the Parkdale Recreation Site offers a more mellow access point before that point.
Nearby facilities include the Coaldale Campground, located within 10 miles. The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Visitor Center in Salida can provide additional information and resources for visitors looking to explore the river by boat. Paddlers and boaters should always exercise caution when accessing the Arkansas River and be aware of changing conditions.
The Arkansas River is a substantial waterway, running over 1,200 miles and draining an area of nearly 134,000 square miles. It has an average flow of over 51,000 cubic feet per second and an average gradient of 7.9 feet per mile, making it a popular destination for whitewater enthusiasts. Downstream, the river enters the challenging Royal Gorge, a Class V whitewater section, but the Parkdale Recreation Site offers a more mellow access point before that point.
Nearby facilities include the Coaldale Campground, located within 10 miles. The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Visitor Center in Salida can provide additional information and resources for visitors looking to explore the river by boat. Paddlers and boaters should always exercise caution when accessing the Arkansas River and be aware of changing conditions.
Nearby Recreation Areas
Texas Creek
Located within