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Colorado | Salida / Bighorn Sheep Canyon / Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Arkansas RiverSalida Whitewater Park to Rincon
A public-access Class II–III Arkansas River reach from the Salida city river access through Bighorn Sheep Canyon to the CPW Rincon take-out.
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Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A public Salida-to-Rincon day run with direct 07091200 telemetry, official corridor flow guidance, named CPW and city endpoints, Class II–III hazards, and designated endpoint camping at Rincon.
Access map
Put-in
Riverside Park / F Street public river exit near Salida Whitewater ParkUse the public Riverside Park/F Street or clearly signed Salida Whitewater Park river exit only. Confirm the current carry, ramp, parking, and city rules on site.
Take-out
Rincon AHRA boat ramp and campgroundRincon is a CPW/AHRA boat ramp, river access, parking, and campground. Confirm the current ramp, fee, reservation, road, and take-out conditions before launch; the OSM coordinate is a water-entry anchor, not a guarantee of current facilities.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Use the public Riverside Park/F Street or clearly signed Salida Whitewater Park river exit only. Confirm the current carry, ramp, parking, and city rules on site.
- Rincon is a CPW/AHRA boat ramp, river access, parking, and campground. Confirm the current ramp, fee, reservation, road, and take-out conditions before launch; the OSM coordinate is a water-entry anchor, not a guarantee of current facilities.
- Treat the 300–5,000 cfs official band and approximately 400 cfs lower preference as planning guidance only. Keep the route unavailable when telemetry, access, visual conditions, or group skill are inconsistent.
- Exit at Rincon. Vallie Bridge and Rincon-to-Pinnacle Rock are separate downstream planning boundaries.
Watch for
- USGS 07091200 below 300 cfs, below the preferred 400 cfs, above 5,000 cfs, rapidly rising, unavailable, or inconsistent with local conditions
- Bear Creek Rapid, Class II–III waves, cold water, strainers, debris, canyon walls, anglers, bridge effects, swimmers, and failure to reach the Rincon take-out
- CPW/AHRA or City of Salida closures, event restrictions, parking/carry changes, road conditions, fire restrictions, and campground reservation or fee changes
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
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USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Arkansas River near Nathrop, CO. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
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Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Arkansas River near Nathrop, CO |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 400 cfs to 5,000 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 | Salida to Rincon 300–5,000 cfs planning band; Colorado hazards technical report |
| Gauge source | Checking |
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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 corridorSalida to Rincon, approximately 10 miles, Class II(III)
American Whitewater names the reach and difficulty; CPW identifies the Salida-to-Vallie public access chain and Bighorn Sheep Canyon character.
- Direct gauge and route-specific flow guidanceUSGS 07091200; official 300–5,000 cfs planning band; approximately 400 cfs lower preference
USGS provides direct telemetry near Nathrop. The Colorado hazards technical report explicitly links Salida to Rincon to this station and band; American Whitewater provides additional conservative planning context.
- Salida endpoint accessRiverside Park/F Street access beside Salida Whitewater Park
American Whitewater publishes the Riverside Park access and the City of Salida documents the public whitewater park and boat ramp.
- Rincon endpoint access and campingCPW/AHRA Rincon boat ramp, river access, parking, fee site, and campground
CPW lists the site amenities and the route page identifies Rincon as the take-out for mellow floaters; the coordinate is corroborated by an OSM-mapped slipway.
- SafetyBear Creek Rapid, cold water, Class II–III canyon moving water, mandatory Rincon exit
American Whitewater supplies the Bear Creek hazard context; CPW supplies the canyon and access posture. Require current scouting and rescue readiness.
- Duplicate separationDistinct Salida-to-Rincon corridor below the Salida town run and above Rincon-to-Pinnacle Rock
The endpoint pair, 10-mile reach, Bear Creek features, and mandatory Rincon 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 Salida to Rincon
- USGS 07091200 monitoring location
- USGS 07091200 current conditions
- CPW AHRA Salida to Vallie access and camping
- CPW AHRA brochure
- Colorado hazards technical report
- American Whitewater Riverside Park access
- OpenStreetMap Rincon slipway water-entry anchor
- 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
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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
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Quick answers
Arkansas River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Salida Whitewater Park to Rincon route on the Arkansas River?
Paddle Today watches Arkansas River near Nathrop, CO and treats 400 cfs to 5,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the Salida Whitewater Park to Rincon route on the Arkansas River start and end?
This route starts at Riverside Park / F Street public river exit near Salida Whitewater Park and ends at Rincon AHRA boat ramp and campground, Approximately 10 river miles on the water.
Is the Salida Whitewater Park to Rincon route on the Arkansas River suitable 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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