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Park Office
307 West Sackett Ave.
Salida, CO   81201

Office Hours
8am-5pm Monday-Saturday. Closed noon-1pm Saturday.
Park Hours
All AHRA river sites open 24 Hours a Day

Phone   719-539-7289

Link to parks map

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

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AHRA - cataraft in the Numbers

The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA) is unique in many ways: It is home to the Arkansas River, one of the world's most popular whitewater rivers for kayaking and rafting, while at the same time being recognized as Colorado's premier brown trout river. In addition, abundant opportunities for camping, picnicking, hiking, wildlife watching, mountain biking and OHV travel can be found throughout the recreation area.


The Arkansas Headwaters – or AHRA – gets its unique features from the character of the Arkansas River itself. The AHRA – and its avid patrons – follow the beautiful but unpredictable, wild-to-mild river for 150 miles from the historic town of Leadville, through the Sawatch mountain range and Colorado’s tallest mountains all the way down to Pueblo on the edge of Colorado’s  plains.

AHRA visitors enjoy fishing, hiking, camping, picnicking, rock climbing, and even gold panning along the river’s shores, but whitewater boating is king in the AHRA. The upper Arkansas River is the most popular whitewater boating river in the United States. On any spring or summer day, hundreds of private and commercial rafters and kayakers will challenge the churning rapids or glide through the calmer sections of the Arkansas.

River Camping Regulation
All AHRA overnight campers outside of developed camping areas must use a portable toilet system and fire pan. All waste must be carried out and disposed of properly.
Fishing in the AHRA
The Arkansas River within the AHRA offers fishing opportunities for every type of angler --from the bank or from a raft. There are many public fishing areas easily accessible from the highway, as well as some requiring more of a hike. If you're looking for a day of fishing with the family, AHRA provides sites with access to some of Colorado’s best fishing along with picnic tables, grills and views of the river and mountains.

Last Updated: 8/28/2008

Park at a glance
Current Conditions
77°
Sunny
1 mph w
National Public Lands Day - Four Mile Trails
September 20
Four Mile Trail Area - Trail construction and maintenance in the "Spaghetti Western" section of the 4-Mile area east of Buena Vista. Contact: Starr Jamison with the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area - BLM, 307 W. Sackett Ave., Salida, CO 81201 Phone: 719-539-7289

AHRA Web Cam

 

Zebra Mussel Information

Zebra Mussels Information

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