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Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

State Park in Salida, CO

Hours:

Park:  Open 24 hours a day, year-round

Visitor Center:  Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sunday.
Closures

Entrance Fees:

Daily Vehicle Pass: $​10
Individual Daily Pass: $4

Animals Permitted:

  • Leashed Dogs
  • Service Animals
  • Horses

Park Address:

307 West Sackett Ave.
Salida, CO 81201-1654
United States

Contact:

719-539-7289

[email protected]

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

State Park in Salida, CO

Hours:

Park:  Open 24 hours a day, year-round

Visitor Center:  Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sunday.
Closures

Entrance Fees:

Daily Vehicle Pass: $​10
Individual Daily Pass: $4

Animals Permitted:

  • Leashed Dogs
  • Service Animals
  • Horses

Park Address:

307 West Sackett Ave.
Salida, CO 81201-1654
United States

Contact:

719-539-7289

[email protected]

Navigate to:

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    An overhead distance view of a section of the Arkansas River within the park

    An overhead distance view of a section of the Arkansas River within the park

    Welcome to Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

    A 152-mile stretch of the Arkansas River makes up the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA). The AHRA is recognized as one of the nation's most popular whitewater rafting and kayaking locations. AHRA visitors enjoy camping, hiking, picnicking, wildlife watching, mountain biking, rock climbing and even gold panning along the river’s shores, deep canyons, broad valleys and towering mountain peaks found within the upper Arkansas River Valley.

    A child on a bike with yellow flowers nearby
    A paddle boarder standing on a board
    A group of children sit nearby their family tent.

    5,355

    acres

    318

    campsites

    102

    miles of Gold Medal trout fishing

    152

    miles of river

    A group of people with their paddleboard, gathered on the waters edge.

    River Sections

    From Leadville on the north end to Lake Pueblo on the south end and multiple stops in between, this is one park split into six sections. 

    Explore River Sections

    Accessing the Park

      Directions

      Park Office

      307 West Sackett Ave.

      Salida, CO, 81201

      The park office is located in downtown Salida at the corner of G St and Sackett Ave.

      Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed for lunch 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Closed weekends.

      Unlike most other Colorado State Parks, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area does not have one set of driving directions to get to the park. This is because the AHRA park is a linear recreation area that follows the Arkansas River for 152 miles from the high mountains near Leadville, Colorado, to Lake Pueblo, on the edge of Colorado’s plains, and there are several highways and roads entering the valley. 

      Under the River Sections page, see the Leadville to Buena Vista, Buena Vista to Salida, Salida to Vallie Bridge, Vallie Bridge to Parkdale, Parkdale to Cañon City, and Cañon City to Lake Pueblo pages for directions.

        Visitor Center

        The AHRA Visitor Center is located in downtown Salida at the corner of G St and Sackett Ave. Visitors will find books and memorabilia in the gift shop, may purchase licenses and passes, and can register recreational vehicles.

        Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

        If you have questions, please call us at 719-539-7289 or email us at ​[email protected].

        Electric Vehicle Charging Station

        There is a ChargePoint electrical vehicle charging station outside of the AHRA Visitor Center in the G Street parking lot.

        Directions Park Brochure
        Closures

        There are no closures at this

        Fees and Passes

        Daily Vehicle Pass

        Single vehicle and its occupants

        1 Day

        $10-$12

        Individual Daily Pass

        For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc at select parks

        1 Day

        $4

        Keep Colorado Wild Pass

        DMV vehicle registration renewal option for Colorado residents

        12 Months

        $29

        Annual Vehicle Pass (Affixed)

        Pass for a single vehicle and its occupants

        12 Months

        $80

        Family Annual Pass (Hang Tag)

        Members of the same household

        12 Months

        $120

        Aspen Leaf Annual Pass

        Colorado residents 64+

        12 Months

        $70

        Centennial Pass

        Income-eligible Colorado residents

        12 Months

        $14

        Columbine Pass

        Colorado residents with disabilities

        12 Months

        $14

        Veterans License Plate

        DMV vehicle registration renewal option for military veterans (disabled veterans or purple heart plates)

        Lifetime

        Free

        Independence Lifetime Pass

        Colorado resident veterans with disabilities

        Lifetime

        Free

        Blue Spruce Pass

        Colorado resident first responders with disabilities

        Lifetime

        $10
        Purchase a Park Pass Online Find a CPW Location Find an Authorized Sales Agent

        Nature and Wildlife

        The length of AHRA provides plenty of viewing opportunities to see water birds such as kingfishers and American dippers, raptors including eagles and red-tailed hawks, and mammals such as deer and mountain goats.

        Be on the Lookout for Birds

        Can you spot all the resident and visiting bird species? Download the Bird List Brochure (PDF).

          Birds

          Birds You Might Find

          • Turkey vulture
          • Lesser yellowlegs
          • Great blue heron
          • Bald eagle
          Bald eagle
          Mammals

          Mammals You Might Find

          • Mule deer
          • American beaver
          • Desert cottontail
          • Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep
          Desert cottontail
          Reptiles and Amphibians

          Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find

          • Coachwhip
          • Prairie lizard
          • Northern leopard frog
          • Red-spotted toad
          Salamander
          See More AHRA Nature and Wildlife

          Upcoming Events

          Teachers at Upper Arkansas OUT class, 2018, photographer Tracy Predmore

          Jun

          24

          Upper Arkansas OUT, formerly known as TEN: Watershed Wonders – The Blue Lines that Tie Us Together!

          Tuesday, Jun 24 - Friday, Jun 27

          Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

          Join Upper Arkansas O.U.T. (Outdoor Understanding for Teachers), formerly known as T.E.N., for 3 ½ days exploring the Upper Arkansas watershed. The class will focus on the importance of watersheds to nature and the people in Colorado. Topics will include water & natural resources management, aquatic wildlife such as beavers and fish, soil connections, and permaculture. We will also connect nature and water to art and mindfulness. Participants will visit local sites in the Upper Arkansas Valley and be exposed to a variety of hands-on activities that apply to science, social studies, math, history, art, and language arts. The goal of O.U.T. (Outdoor Understanding for Teachers) is to help teachers promote student understanding and appreciation of science and the natural environment through local, field-oriented education opportunities in the schools and in-school curriculum.  This event is taking place at various locations including Twin Lakes, Trout Creek Pass,  Hutchinson Ranch, and Coaldale.
          View Details
          Teachers at Upper Arkansas OUT class, 2018, photographer Tracy Predmore

          Jun

          24

          Registration Required:

          Event participants must register

          Upper Arkansas OUT, formerly known as TEN: Watershed Wonders – The Blue Lines that Tie Us Together!

          Tuesday, Jun 24 - Friday, Jun 27

          Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

          Join Upper Arkansas O.U.T. (Outdoor Understanding for Teachers), formerly known as T.E.N., for 3 ½ days exploring the Upper Arkansas watershed. The class will focus on the importance of watersheds to nature and the people in Colorado. Topics will include water & natural resources management, aquatic wildlife such as beavers and fish, soil connections, and permaculture. We will also connect nature and water to art and mindfulness. Participants will visit local sites in the Upper Arkansas Valley and be exposed to a variety of hands-on activities that apply to science, social studies, math, history, art, and language arts. The goal of O.U.T. (Outdoor Understanding for Teachers) is to help teachers promote student understanding and appreciation of science and the natural environment through local, field-oriented education opportunities in the schools and in-school curriculum.  This event is taking place at various locations including Twin Lakes, Trout Creek Pass,  Hutchinson Ranch, and Coaldale.
          View & Register
          Teachers at Upper Arkansas OUT class, 2018, photographer Tracy Predmore

          Jun

          24

          Upper Arkansas OUT, formerly known as TEN: Watershed Wonders – The Blue Lines that Tie Us Together!

          Tuesday, Jun 24 - Friday, Jun 27

          Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

          Join Upper Arkansas O.U.T. (Outdoor Understanding for Teachers), formerly known as T.E.N., for 3 ½ days exploring the Upper Arkansas watershed. The class will focus on the importance of watersheds to nature and the people in Colorado. Topics will include water & natural resources management, aquatic wildlife such as beavers and fish, soil connections, and permaculture. We will also connect nature and water to art and mindfulness. Participants will visit local sites in the Upper Arkansas Valley and be exposed to a variety of hands-on activities that apply to science, social studies, math, history, art, and language arts. The goal of O.U.T. (Outdoor Understanding for Teachers) is to help teachers promote student understanding and appreciation of science and the natural environment through local, field-oriented education opportunities in the schools and in-school curriculum.  This event is taking place at various locations including Twin Lakes, Trout Creek Pass,  Hutchinson Ranch, and Coaldale.
          View Details
          Teachers at Upper Arkansas OUT class, 2018, photographer Tracy Predmore

          Jun

          24

          Registration Required:

          Event participants must register

          Upper Arkansas OUT, formerly known as TEN: Watershed Wonders – The Blue Lines that Tie Us Together!

          Tuesday, Jun 24 - Friday, Jun 27

          Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

          Join Upper Arkansas O.U.T. (Outdoor Understanding for Teachers), formerly known as T.E.N., for 3 ½ days exploring the Upper Arkansas watershed. The class will focus on the importance of watersheds to nature and the people in Colorado. Topics will include water & natural resources management, aquatic wildlife such as beavers and fish, soil connections, and permaculture. We will also connect nature and water to art and mindfulness. Participants will visit local sites in the Upper Arkansas Valley and be exposed to a variety of hands-on activities that apply to science, social studies, math, history, art, and language arts. The goal of O.U.T. (Outdoor Understanding for Teachers) is to help teachers promote student understanding and appreciation of science and the natural environment through local, field-oriented education opportunities in the schools and in-school curriculum.  This event is taking place at various locations including Twin Lakes, Trout Creek Pass,  Hutchinson Ranch, and Coaldale.
          View & Register
          View All Events