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 4:30 p.m. Closed 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch. Closed Saturdays and Sundays
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 4:30 p.m. Closed 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch. Closed Saturdays and Sundays
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:
Construction Closures: Vallie Bridge, Ruby Mountain -
Vallie Bridge Day Use Area is closed 10/28/2024 through 12/12/2024. Ruby Mountain Recreation Site is closed 9/1/2024 through 5/1/2025. There is a full road closure of County Rd. 300 near MM 2.2 at the entrance into Browns Canyon; and, full river closure of the Arkansas River from Fisherman's Bridge continuing Southeast to Ruby Mountain Campground. County Rd. 300 and this section of Arkansas River are closed to all vehicle, water craft and foot traffic as a result of unstable slope conditions encountered during construction. The full road and river closure will continue until project completion.
Boaters preparig to go on the river.
Arkansas River Headwaters Recreation Area
About Salida to Vallie Bridge
Along the Arkansas River, the 18-mile Salida to Vallie Bridge section has 7 river access sites. Salida East, Point Barr, Rincon, and Vallie Bridge all have campsites, but dispersed camping is allowed at Red Wall, and on federal land.
What to Do at This River Section
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Education Programs
- Fishing
- Gold Panning
- Fishing
- Horseback Riding
- Picnicking
- Rockclimbing
- Whitewater Rafting
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hunting
- OHV/Snowmobile Riding
Arkansas River Headwaters Recreation Area
The River Below Salida
The river flows into Bighorn Sheep Canyon, a granite canyon dotted with stands of pinon pine, juniper, and oak brush. Anglers especially enjoy this segment- it offers deep pools, rock banks, and gravel bars. In addition to public land access along the river, Colorado Parks And Wildlife fishing easements also provide river access. Boaters will find Class II-IV rapids in this segment.
Salida to Vallie Bridge Sites
The 7 river access sites are listed in order from Salida to Vallie Bridge.
Choose a Site
- Commercial Boaters: Not Allowed
- River Flow Class: between Class II and Class V rapids.
- Float Skill Level: Beginner, Novice, or Advanced.
Activities and Amenities:
- Boat Ramp/Slide
- Changing Facilites
- Fishing Access
- Hiking
- Horse/Bike Trail
- Picnic Tables / Grills
- Parking
- Restroom
- River Access
- Camping
- OHV
This site is managed by the town of Salida, CO.
This site offers the closest camping to downtown Salida, Colorado, and is conveniently located just east of Salida on US Highway 50, near mile marker 224.
- Commercial Boaters: Allowed
- River Flow Class: between Class II and Class V rapids.
- Float Skill Level: Beginner, Novice, or Advanced.
Activities and Amenities:
- Boat Ramp/Slide
- Camping
- Changing Facilities
- Fishing Access
- Picnic Tables / Grills
- Restroom
- River Access
- Fee Site
- Parking
- OHV
Campsite Information:
Salida East campsite offers 33 basic sites and one yurt at $28.00 dollars per night. The camp host is located at site 1612.
- Changing Facilities (two)
- Picnic Table / Grill
- Tent Pad
- Vault Toilets (two)
- Potable Water
- RV Hook-ups
- Trash Cans
Reservations can be made online at www.cpwshop.com or by calling 1-800-244-5613.
Firewood Collecting Permits
Permits for collecting firewood on Bureau of Land Management land within the AHRA are only available on the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office website. The AHRA Visitor Center no longer sells these permits.
US Forest Service firewood collecting permits are available from the Salida Ranger District Office.
Group Picnic Site Information:
Salida East Group Picnic Site is made up of two group picnic spaces right next to each other. Combined, both can hold up to 64 people and are $28.00 dollars per day per side.
- Shade Shelters (three)
- tables (four per shelter)
To reserve a portion or the whole Group Picnic Area, please fill out the Salida East Group Picnic Site Rental Request Form.
- Commercial Boaters: Allowed
- River Flow Class: between Class II and Class V rapids.
- Float Skill Level: Beginner, Novice, or Advanced.
Activities and Amenities:
- Fishing Access
- Parking
- River Access
- Boat Ramp/Slide
- Camping
- Changing Facilities
- OHV
- Picnic Tables / Grills
- Parking
- Restroom
Point Barr is located approximately 4.7 miles east of Salida on US Highway 50 at mile marker 227. Turn left (north) onto Fremont CR 7 (turns to CR 45 after approximately one mile). Follow CR 45 for 1.5 miles. After the railroad trestle, turn left (east). The campground is 0.75 miles ahead on the right (south).
- Commercial Boaters: Allowed
- River Flow Class: between Class II and Class V rapids.
- Float Skill Level: Beginner, Novice, or Advanced.
Caution: CR 45 is a dirt road with narrow, single-lane stretches. The road makes a tight turn under a railroad trestle (12' 3" high x 10' 6" wide). Trailering is technical but is possible up to a 15' trailer, depending on trailering skill. This loop is not accessible in a motorhome. We do not recommend accessing Point Barr from the east (4WD with water crossing).
Activities and Amenities:
- Camping
- Fishing Access
- Hiking
- Horse/Bike Trail
- Parking
- Picnic Tables / Grills
- Restroom
- River Access
- Fee Site
- Parking
- Picnic Tables / Grills
- Restroom
- River Access
- Fee Site
- Boat Ramp/Slide
- OHV
- Changing Facilities
Campsite Information:
Point Barr campsite offers 33 basic sites at $28.00 dollars per night.
- Picnic Table / Grill
- Tent Pad
- Vault Toilet
- Potable Water
- RV Hook-ups
- Trash Cans
Reservations can be made online at www.cpwshop.com or by calling 1-800-244-5613.
Firewood Collecting Permits
Permits for collecting firewood on Bureau of Land Management land within the AHRA are only available on the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office website. The AHRA Visitor Center no longer sells these permits.
US Forest Service firewood collecting permits are available from the Salida Ranger District Office.
Mining Information:
Point Barr Placer Area Permits are available for purchase from the AHRA Visitor Center at $30.00 per device per season, authorizing motorized/mechanized mining at the CPW Point Barr R&PP Lease Area between April 1 and September 30.
For general questions about mining in the AHRA, contact the park office at 719-539-7289. For questions regarding mining claims, please contact the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office at 719-269-8500.
- Commercial Boaters: Not Allowed
- River Flow Class: between Class II and Class V rapids.
- Float Skill Level: Beginner, Novice, or Advanced.
Activities and Amenities:
- Disbursed Camping
- Fishing Access
- River Access
- Boat Ramp/Slide
- Changing Facilities
- OHV
- Picnic Tables / Grills
- Restroom
Firewood Collecting Permits
Permits for collecting firewood on Bureau of Land Management land within the AHRA are only available on the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office website. The AHRA Visitor Center no longer sells these permits.
US Forest Service firewood collecting permits are available from the Salida Ranger District Office.
This site is conveniently located off Hwy 50 and seems to attract more of an RV crowd. Some of the best fishing along the river is found up and down river from Rincon. It is also a takeout for boaters wanting a more mellow float and to not cross into rapids on the Arkansas River.
- Commercial Boaters: Allowed
- River Flow Class: between Class II and Class V rapids.
- Float Skill Level: Beginner, Novice, or Advanced.
Activities and Amenities:
- Boat Ramp/Slide
- Camping
- Changing Facilities
- Fishing Access
- Parking
- Picnic Tables / Grills
- Restroom
- River Access
- Fee Site
- OHV
Campsite Information:
Rincon campsite offers 8 basic sites at $28.00 dollars per night. Campsite 1204HA is accessible.
- Changing Facilities (two)
- Picnic Table / Grill
- Tent Pad
- Vault Toilets (four)
- Potable Water
- RV Hook-ups
- Trash Cans
Reservations can be made online at www.cpwshop.com or by calling 1-800-244-5613.
Firewood Collecting Permits
Permits for collecting firewood on Bureau of Land Management land within the AHRA are only available on the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office website. The AHRA Visitor Center no longer sells these permits.
US Forest Service firewood collecting permits are available from the Salida Ranger District Office.
Vallie Bridge is located in Bighorn Sheep Canyon and is a peaceful respite for overnight river trips, as well as tent campers traveling through the valley.
- Commercial Boaters: Allowed
- River Flow Class: between Class II and Class V rapids.
- Float Skill Level: Beginner, Novice, or Advanced.
Caution: The Vallie Bridge site is boat-in/walk-in only. There is no vehicle access to this site.
Activities and Amenities:
- Boat Ramp/Slide
- Camping
- Changing Facilities
- Fishing Access
- Parking
- Picnic Tables / Grills
- Restroom
- River Access
- Fee
- OHV
Campsite Information:
Vallie Bridge campsite offers 16 basic sites at $28.00 dollars per night.
- Picnic Table / Grill
- Tent Pad
- Vault Toilet
- Potable Water
- RV Hook-ups
- Trash Cans
Reservations can be made online at www.cpwshop.com or by calling 1-800-244-5613.
Firewood Collecting Permits
Permits for collecting firewood on Bureau of Land Management land within the AHRA are only available on the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office website. The AHRA Visitor Center no longer sells these permits.
US Forest Service firewood collecting permits are available from the Salida Ranger District Office.
High Water Advisories
| Rapid | Advisory in Effect | High Water Advisement | High Water Equipment Advisement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers | No | It is recommended that the Numbers (Section 1E) not be run when the river is flowing over 2400 cfs at the Numbers/Below Granite gage as read at 7:00 am for full day or morning trips and at 12:00 noon for afternoon Numbers trips. |
|
| Pine Creek Rapid | No | It is recommended that Pine Creek Rapid (within Section 1D) not be run when the river is flowing over 1250 cfs at the Numbers/Below Granite gauge as read at 7:00 a.m. for full day or morning trips. |
|
| Royal Gorge | No | It is recommended that the Royal Gorge (Section 5) not be run at flows over 3200 cfs at the Parkdale gauge as read at 7:00 a.m. for full day or morning trips and at 12:00 noon for afternoon Royal Gorge trips. |
|
Camping
Camping at Salida East
Salida East has 33 basic campsites available for $28.00 per night.
Camping at Point Barr
Point Barr has 12 basic campsites available for $28.00 per night.
Camping at Rincon
Rincon has 8 basic campsites available for $28.00 per night.
Vallie Bridge
Vallie Bridge has 16 basic campsites available for $28.00 per night.
You can reserve any campsite online at www.cpwshop.com or by calling 1-800-244-5613. Dispersed camping is also available at other select sites between Salida and Vallie Bridge and on federal land.
Two people assembling a tent at a campsite.
- Changing Area
- Grill
- Picnic Table
- Tent Pad
- Vault Toilet
- Potable Water
- RV Hook-ups
- Trash Cans
Dispersed camping is allowed at Granite Rock, Stone Cabin, Rapid Number 4, The Wall, Rapid Number 5 1/2, Boulderfield, Rapid Number 6, Riverside, Elephant Rock, Tunnelview, Five 1/2 Points, Texas Creek, Lazy J, Bootlegger, Red Wall, and at Brown’s Canyon National Monument.
Camping outside of a developed campsite does not include any amenities so campers will need to:
- Bring a portable toilet device.
- Use a fire container and follow local fire restrictions.
- Camping is limited to 14 days in any 28 day period.
For camping on forest land, contact the USFS Salida Ranger District, or for camping on Bureau of Land Management Land or information on Browns Canyon National Monument contact the Bureau of Land Management Royal Gorge Field Office.
The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area is comprised of over 6,000 acres of public lands, owned by and cooperatively managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the United States Forest Service (USFS).
It is the recreator's responsibility to know what land they are on, and the rules and regulations tied to those lands.
In addition to traditional paper maps, there are online tools and phone apps to help you locate and access public lands around the AHRA. Some popular tools include:
- COTREX - The Colorado Trail Explorer: Search for Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
- The Colorado Hunting Atlas
- Map apps including OnX and Avenza Maps
- Paper maps, such as those sold in the AHRA Visitor Center
- Maps and Publications offered by the US Forest Service
Permits for collecting firewood on Bureau of Land Management land within the AHRA are only available on the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office website. The AHRA Visitor Center no longer sells these permits.
US Forest Service firewood collecting permits are available from the Salida Ranger District Office.