Access Site
CO
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Source: colorado_parks_and_wildlife Updated 1 year ago
City: Howard, CO
County: Fremont County
Type: Boat Ramp
Location: 38.47252231, -105.86590270
Air Temp: --
Location
Live Webcam
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Real-time data from USGS Water Services
Whitewater Run
II-III
Put-in
Arkansas - 08. Rincon to Pinnacle Rock
Current Conditions
--
• 300.00-5000.00 cfs
Arkansas River at Parkdale, Co.
Whitewater Runs on Arkansas River
16 runs (12 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
II-III
Put-in at this location
08. Rincon to Pinnacle Rock
19.5 mi
II(III)
Take-out at this location
07. Salida to Rincon
10.0 mi
III
Downstream from here (17.5 mi to put-in)
09. Pinnacle Rock Launch to Parkdale Launch
17.2 mi
33 ft/mi
III-IV(V)
Downstream from here (32.9 mi to put-in)
10. Parkdale Launch to Canon City (Royal Gorge)
10.0 mi
46 ft/mi
I-II
Downstream from here (43.1 mi to put-in)
11. Centennial Park to Mackenzie Takeout
4.0 mi
I
Downstream from here (47.5 mi to put-in)
12. MacKenzie Bridge to Florence River Park
6.8 mi
II-III
Upstream from here (9.6 mi from take-out)
06. Stone Bridge to Salida
9.5 mi
III
Upstream from here (16.7 mi from take-out)
05. Fisherman's Bridge access to Stone Bridge access
13.0 mi
31 ft/mi
III
Upstream from here (25.7 mi from take-out)
04. Buena Vista to Fisherman's Bridge
6.7 mi
III
Upstream from here (31.3 mi from take-out)
03. Railroad Bridge Launch to Buena Vista
6.7 mi
44 ft/mi
IV
Upstream from here (37.6 mi from take-out)
02. Numbers Launch to Railroad Bridge Launch
6.4 mi
71 ft/mi
IV-V
Upstream from here (43.6 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.
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater
About This Access Site
The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area offers public access to the mighty Arkansas River near the town of Howard, Colorado. This boat ramp provides a convenient put-in for kayakers, canoeists, and small motorized boats looking to explore this major river system.
The Arkansas River is a substantial waterway, flowing over 1,200 miles from its headwaters in the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River. At this access point, the river has an average elevation of around 6,000 feet and an average gradient of 7.9 feet per mile, creating lively current and potential whitewater conditions. Boaters should be prepared for flows that can reach over 50,000 cubic feet per second during peak seasons.
This boat ramp is located near the Browns Canyon National Monument and the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, providing convenient access to a scenic and popular section of the river. Paddlers and boaters can enjoy the stunning mountain vistas and diverse wildlife that thrive along the Arkansas River corridor. As always, visitors are encouraged to recreate responsibly and follow all relevant rules and regulations when using this public access site.
The Arkansas River is a substantial waterway, flowing over 1,200 miles from its headwaters in the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River. At this access point, the river has an average elevation of around 6,000 feet and an average gradient of 7.9 feet per mile, creating lively current and potential whitewater conditions. Boaters should be prepared for flows that can reach over 50,000 cubic feet per second during peak seasons.
This boat ramp is located near the Browns Canyon National Monument and the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, providing convenient access to a scenic and popular section of the river. Paddlers and boaters can enjoy the stunning mountain vistas and diverse wildlife that thrive along the Arkansas River corridor. As always, visitors are encouraged to recreate responsibly and follow all relevant rules and regulations when using this public access site.
Nearby Recreation Areas
Browns Canyon National Monument
Located within
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Located within