Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

Name: Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Address: Salida, CO, 81201-1654, United States
Telephone: 719-539-7289

State Park in Salida, CO

Hours:

Park: Open 24 hours a day, year-round
Visitor Center: Sun.-Tues., Thurs.-Sat. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wed. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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: Sun.-Tues., Thurs.-Sat. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wed. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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:

Texas Creek Closure and Safety Alert -

Due to significant rain events in the area, much of the Texas Creek site has been washed out, including sections of the road. It is currently inaccessible. For your safety, please do not attempt to access this site until maintenance crews have made repairs.

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

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: Sunday through Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

Safety Alerts and Closures

Texas Creek - Due to significant rain events in the area, much of the Texas Creek site has been washed out, including sections of the road. It is currently inaccessible. For your safety, please do not attempt to access this site until maintenance crews have made repairs.

Point Barr Campground - For your safety, do not attempt to access Point Barr Campground from the East on County Road 45. The Badger Creek crossing is currently washed out and unsafe for travel by passenger vehicle. Please plan your route to approach the campground from the West.

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
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

Mammals

Mammals You Might Find

Mule deer
American beaver
Desert cottontail
Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep

Reptiles and Amphibians

Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find

Coachwhip
Prairie lizard
Northern leopard frog
Red-spotted toad

See More AHRA Nature and Wildlife

Upcoming Events

Sep

Friday Hikes with GARNA

Friday, Sep 5

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

GARNA’s Hiking Club gathers in the beautiful nature of the Arkansas River Valley. Hikes are scheduled for every Friday, June...

View Details

Sep

Registration Required:

Event participants must register

Friday Hikes with GARNA

Friday, Sep 5

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

GARNA’s Hiking Club gathers in the beautiful nature of the Arkansas River Valley. Hikes are scheduled for every Friday, June...

View & Register

View & Register

View All Events