Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
State Park in Salida, CO
Hours:
Park: Open 24 hours a day, year-round
Visitor Center: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Saturday and 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
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
State Park in Salida, CO
Hours:
Park: Open 24 hours a day, year-round
Visitor Center: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Saturday and 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
Navigate to:
Ruby Mountain Closure -
Chaffee County Road 300, with access to Ruby Mountain Recreation Site, will open May 1 with traffic control between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. There will be delays of up to 30 minutes for vehicles traveling into or out of the area on County Road 300. , Boat ramp, day use and trail access will reopen May 1. For more info, including when the campground will open, see Closures.
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.
5,355
acres
318
campsites
102
miles of Gold Medal trout fishing
152
miles of river
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.
Accessing the Park
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.
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].
There is a ChargePoint electrical vehicle charging station outside of the AHRA Visitor Center in the G Street parking lot.
Ruby Mountain Recreation Site Construction Closure - Chaffee County Road 300, with access to Ruby Mountain, will open on May 1 with traffic control between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. There will be delays of up to 30 minutes for vehicles traveling into or out of the area on County Road 300.
Ruby Mountain boat ramp, day use, and access to the trail system will re-open to the public May 1.
Ruby Mountain campground will remain closed through May 18 and will reopen to the public for reservations on the night of May 19.
Fees and Passes
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
|
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 |
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 You Might Find
- Turkey vulture
- Lesser yellowlegs
- Great blue heron
- Bald eagle
Mammals You Might Find
- Mule deer
- American beaver
- Desert cottontail
- Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep
Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find
- Coachwhip
- Prairie lizard
- Northern leopard frog
- Red-spotted toad
Upcoming Events
May
17
Clean Up Green Up & Gear Up For Summer
Saturday, May 17
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
May
17
Clean Up Green Up & Gear Up For Summer
Saturday, May 17
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
May
17
Clean Up Green Up & Gear Up For Summer
Saturday, May 17
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
May
17
Clean Up Green Up & Gear Up For Summer
Saturday, May 17
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area