See all 8 routes on Arkansas River
Colorado | Bighorn Sheep Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Arkansas River
Rincon to Pinnacle Rock
Check current paddling conditions for this Arkansas River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A long public Rincon-to-Pinnacle Rock reach with direct Parkdale telemetry, official corridor flow guidance, multiple named AHRA access sites, documented high-water rescue context, and designated endpoint camping.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Rincon AHRA boat ramp and campgroundUse only the named Rincon and Pinnacle Rock AHRA sites as endpoints; intermediate sites are contingency access only after confirming current conditions.
Take-out
Pinnacle Rock AHRA boat ramp and campgroundPinnacle Rock’s water-entry coordinate follows the mapped Arkansas River channel beside the AHRA recreation site; confirm the marked ramp, carry, parking, and current site rules before launch.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Use only the named Rincon and Pinnacle Rock AHRA sites as endpoints; intermediate sites are contingency access only after confirming current conditions.
- Pinnacle Rock’s water-entry coordinate follows the mapped Arkansas River channel beside the AHRA recreation site; confirm the marked ramp, carry, parking, and current site rules before launch.
- The 300–5,000 cfs band is planning guidance only. Keep the route unavailable when telemetry, access, visual conditions, or group skill are inconsistent.
- Exit at Pinnacle Rock before the separate Pinnacle Rock-to-Parkdale reach.
Watch for
- USGS 07094500 below 300 cfs, above 5,000 cfs, rapidly rising, unavailable, or inconsistent with local conditions
- Three Rocks Rapid, lateral waves, holes, strainers, cold water, debris, canyon walls, anglers, and limited recovery
- AHRA closures, fees, fire restrictions, Highway 50 shuttle hazards, parking/carry changes, and failure to reach Pinnacle Rock
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Arkansas River at Parkdale, CO |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 500 cfs to 4,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 300 cfs |
| High threshold | 5,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Rincon to Pinnacle Rock 300–5,000 cfs planning band; Colorado hazards technical report |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Named public corridorRincon to Pinnacle Rock, approximately 19.5 miles, Class II–III
American Whitewater names the reach, difficulty, distance, intermediate sites, and endpoint highway-mile references.
- Direct gauge and route-specific flow guidanceUSGS 07094500; official 300–5,000 cfs planning band
The Colorado hazards technical report explicitly links Rincon to Pinnacle Rock to the Parkdale gauge and band.
- Endpoint access and campingRincon and Pinnacle Rock AHRA public ramps, river access, and camping
CPW’s access listing identifies both public endpoint sites and their amenities; confirm current facilities and fees.
- SafetyThree Rocks and long canyon reach; CPW ranger rescue documented near Pinnacle Rock
American Whitewater documents the reach hazard and rescue context; require current scouting and rescue readiness.
- Rights-clean image decisionUSGS Arkansas River in Colorado image approved as public-domain route-context imagery
Use the public-domain USGS image as corridor context, not as an exact Pinnacle Rock endpoint photograph.
- Duplicate separationDistinct Rincon-to-Pinnacle corridor above the Salida-to-Rincon run and below Pinnacle Rock-to-Parkdale
The endpoint pair, 19.5-mile reach, Parkdale gauge, and mandatory Pinnacle Rock exit distinguish this route from adjacent records.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- American Whitewater Rincon to Pinnacle Rock
- USGS 07094500 monitoring location
- USGS 07094500 current conditions
- CPW AHRA Vallie Bridge to Parkdale access
- CPW AHRA brochure
- Colorado hazards technical report
- American Whitewater Three Rocks rescue report
- OpenStreetMap Rincon slipway water-entry anchor
- OpenStreetMap Arkansas River channel near Pinnacle Rock
- USGS Arkansas River in Colorado image
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
More in Colorado
All 39 routesMore on Arkansas River
All 8Nearby routes by distance
Quick answers
Arkansas River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Arkansas River?
Paddle Today watches Arkansas River at Parkdale, CO and treats 500 cfs to 4,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Arkansas River route start and end?
This route starts at Rincon AHRA boat ramp and campground and ends at Pinnacle Rock AHRA boat ramp and campground, about Approximately 19.5 river miles on the water.
Is this Arkansas River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.