Access Site
CO
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Arkansas River • South Arkansas River
Source: colorado_parks_and_wildlife Updated 1 year ago
City: Salida, CO
County: Chaffee County
Type: Boat Ramp
Location: 38.50941327, -105.96340898
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
II(III)
This location is on this run
07. Salida to Rincon
10.0 mi
II-III
Downstream from here (7.2 mi to put-in)
08. Rincon to Pinnacle Rock
19.5 mi
III
Downstream from here (24.7 mi to put-in)
09. Pinnacle Rock Launch to Parkdale Launch
17.2 mi
33 ft/mi
III-IV(V)
Downstream from here (39.6 mi to put-in)
10. Parkdale Launch to Canon City (Royal Gorge)
10.0 mi
46 ft/mi
I-II
Downstream from here (50.0 mi to put-in)
11. Centennial Park to Mackenzie Takeout
4.0 mi
II-III
Upstream from here (2.6 mi from take-out)
06. Stone Bridge to Salida
9.5 mi
III
Upstream from here (9.9 mi from take-out)
05. Fisherman's Bridge access to Stone Bridge access
13.0 mi
31 ft/mi
III
Upstream from here (19.9 mi from take-out)
04. Buena Vista to Fisherman's Bridge
6.7 mi
III
Upstream from here (25.8 mi from take-out)
03. Railroad Bridge Launch to Buena Vista
6.7 mi
44 ft/mi
IV
Upstream from here (32.0 mi from take-out)
02. Numbers Launch to Railroad Bridge Launch
6.4 mi
71 ft/mi
IV-V
Upstream from here (37.9 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 River Headwaters Recreation Area in Salida, Colorado provides excellent public access for kayakers, canoeists, and boaters on this major western river. The Arkansas River is a substantial waterway, spanning over 1,200 miles in length with an average flow of over 51,000 cubic feet per second. It drops nearly 9,600 feet in elevation from its headwaters to the river mouth, giving it a lively, fast-moving character in this region.
The boat ramp access site in Salida sits along a section of the river known for its excellent trout fishing and the Salida Whitewater Park, which offers a kayak play-hole and slalom course. Downstream, the river flows through the dramatic Bighorn Sheep Canyon before reaching the renowned Royal Gorge. This site provides a good launching point to explore the Arkansas River within the larger Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, which offers numerous developed recreation facilities and access points. Visitors should review any current closure information, follow outdoor ethics, and recreate responsibly when enjoying this public resource.
The boat ramp access site in Salida sits along a section of the river known for its excellent trout fishing and the Salida Whitewater Park, which offers a kayak play-hole and slalom course. Downstream, the river flows through the dramatic Bighorn Sheep Canyon before reaching the renowned Royal Gorge. This site provides a good launching point to explore the Arkansas River within the larger Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, which offers numerous developed recreation facilities and access points. Visitors should review any current closure information, follow outdoor ethics, and recreate responsibly when enjoying this public resource.
Nearby Recreation Areas
Browns Canyon National Monument
Located within
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Located within
PSICC
Located within