Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
State Park in Salida, CO
Hours:
Park: Open 24 hours a day, year-round
Visitor Center: Mon.-Fri.: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed Sat.-Sun.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10-$15
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: Mon.-Fri.: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed Sat.-Sun.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10-$15
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
307 West Sackett Ave.
Salida, CO 81201-1654
United States
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Fire Restrictions -
AHRA campgrounds are covered by Federal and County fire restrictions; the most restrictive applies. Because conditions change rapidly, check the Colorado Fire Restrictions map before your visit to ensure you have the most up-to-date information for your specific location. Read more details.
AHRA Waterflow
Announcements
| Date | Announcement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| July 14, 2026 | Decrease in Twin Release | From USBR: We're going to decrease the release from Twin by 20 cfs at 0830 this morning, 14 July. After the gate operation, we'll be releasing 15 cfs- about 2 cfs from accounts and the rest native. |
| July 10, 2026 | Decrease in Twin Release | From USBR: We're going to decrease the Twin release by 15 cfs at 10:30 this morning, 10 July. After the gate operation, we'll be releasing 37 cfs- about 1 cfs of account and the rest native. |
| July 8, 2026 | Increase in Twin Release | From USBR: We're going to increase the release from Twin by 15 cfs at 08:30 this morning, July 8. After the gate operation, we'll be releasing 50 cfs, about 1 cfs from accounts and the rest native. |
| July 5, 2026 | Increase at Twin Lakes | From USBR: We're going to increase the release from Twin Lakes to 30 cfs at 0800 hrs. After this gate change, we'll be releasing approximately 30 cfs native and 1.6 cfs contract. |
| June 30, 2026 | Decrease at Twin Lakes | From USBR: We're going to decrease the release from Twin Lakes to 15 cfs at 0830 hrs. After this gate change, we'll be releasing approximately 15 cfs native and 0.4 cfs contract. |
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. |
|
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Colors of Water
View the Colors of Water report on the Arkansas Basin Water Operations Dashboard.
Waterflow Summary
The information above depicts the Flow Program Target and the flow of the Arkansas River as measured in cubic feet per second (cfs) at the Wellsville Gauge near Salida, CO. This page also tracks, in acre feet (af), the amount of water released as part of the summer component of the Voluntary Flow Program. For reference, a flow of 1 cfs for 24 hours is 1.98 af.
Waterflow Gauge Locations (7 A.M. Reading)
| Gauge | Value | Water Flow Data |
|---|---|---|
| Wellsville | 223 cfs | |
| Below Granite | 126 cfs | |
| Nathrop | 195 cfs | |
| Parkdale | 237 cfs |