WATERLANDSSign in
Colorado, Arkansas, Oklahoma Rivers
Live Conditions

Arkansas River

Colorado, Arkansas, Oklahoma310 miles16 Segments · 33 Rapids
Primary Flow
—
cfs
Gauge Height
—
ft
Water Temp
—
°F
Air Temp
—
°F
Basin SWE
—
in avg
Daylight
—
sunrise
5-Day Trend
—
 

River Profile

310 mi
Headwater
Mouth
Texas Creek → BVTexas Creek → Buena Vista State Wildlife Area · 45.2 mi
BV → Ruby MountainBuena Vista State Wildlife Area → Ruby Mountain · 8.3 mi
Ruby Mountain → Stone BridgeRuby Mountain → Stone Bridge · 11.3 mi
Stone Bridge → Salida EastStone Bridge → Salida East · 12.1 mi
Salida East → RinconSalida East → Rincon · 7.1 mi
Rincon → Lone PineRincon → Lone Pine · 17.6 mi
Lone Pine → Arkansas HeadwatersLone Pine → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area · 10.2 mi
Arkansas Headwaters → Arkansas HeadwatersArkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area · 0.2 mi
Arkansas Headwaters → Five PointsArkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Five Points · 1.4 mi
Five Points → ParkdaleFive Points → Parkdale · 6.9 mi
John Martin → John Martin ReservoirJohn Martin State Wildlife Area → John Martin Reservoir State Park · 6.7 mi
John Martin Reservoir → John Martin ReservoirJohn Martin Reservoir State Park → John Martin Reservoir State Park · 0.8 mi
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Gauge(28)
Boat Ramp(19)
Rapid(33)
Fishing
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Your History · Arkansas River

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Segments
12 segments
SegmentMilesRiver MileCFSStatusFloat Est.Rapids
Vallie Bridge → Buena Vista State Wildlife Area
45.2RM 0.0 – 45.2——12:55hrs9max IV
Buena Vista State Wildlife Area → Ruby Mountain
8.3RM 45.2 – 53.5——2:22hrs—
Ruby Mountain → Stone Bridge
11.3RM 53.5 – 64.8——3:14hrs9max IV
Stone Bridge → Salida East
12.1RM 64.8 – 76.9——3:27hrs—
Salida East → Rincon
7.1RM 76.9 – 84.0——2:02hrs—
Rincon → Lone Pine
17.6RM 84.0 – 101.6——5:02hrs4max III
Lone Pine → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
10.2RM 101.6 – 111.8——2:55hrs—
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
0.2RM 111.8 – 112.0——0:03hrs—
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Five Points
1.4RM 112.0 – 113.4——0:24hrs—
Five Points → Parkdale
6.9RM 113.4 – 120.3——1:58hrs—
John Martin State Wildlife Area → John Martin Reservoir State Park
6.7RM 300.3 – 307.0——1:55hrs—
John Martin Reservoir State Park → John Martin Reservoir State Park
0.8RM 307.0 – 307.8——0:14hrs—

Basin Snowpack

SNOTEL 20
  • Beaver Ck Village
    8,530 ft
    --
    --%
  • Berthoud Summit
    11,300 ft
    --
    --%
  • Brumley
    10,570 ft
    --
    --%
  • Buckskin Joe
    11,160 ft
    --
    --%
  • Butte
    10,190 ft
    --
    --%
  • Castle Peak
    11,510 ft
    --
    --%

Quick Facts

Total Length
310 miles
Gauge Stations
29
Segments
16
Rapids
33
Boat Ramps
56

Elevation Profile

Elevation data not yet available for this river.

Boat Ramps & Access

17 ramps
  • RM 0

    Hecla Junction

    ✓ Ramp✓ Parking✓ Restroom
  • RM 0

    Spike Buck

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 0

    Texas Creek

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 0

    Loma Linda

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 0

    Canyon Trading Post

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 0

    Vallie Bridge

    ✓ Ramp✓ Parking✓ Restroom
  • RM 45

    Buena Vista State Wildlife Area

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 54

    Ruby Mountain

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 65

    Stone Bridge

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 77

    Salida East

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
Fishing Intel

Current Hatches

Blue-Winged Olive
Caddis
Stonefly
Pale M. Dun
Midge
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Recommended Flies — Early July

RS2 Emerger
#20-22 · Olive/Gray
Sparkle Dun BWO
#18-20 · Olive
Zebra Midge
#18-22 · Black/Red
Pat's Rubber Legs
#6-10 · Brown/Black
Pheasant Tail
#16-20 · Natural
Egg Pattern
#14-16 · Peach/Orange
Float Time Estimates
  • Vallie Bridge → Buena Vista State Wildlife Area
    45.2 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Buena Vista State Wildlife Area → Ruby Mountain
    8.3 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Ruby Mountain → Stone Bridge
    11.3 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Stone Bridge → Salida East
    12.1 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Salida East → Rincon
    7.1 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Rincon → Lone Pine
    17.6 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Lone Pine → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
    10.2 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
    0.2 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Five Points
    1.4 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Five Points → Parkdale
    6.9 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • John Martin State Wildlife Area → John Martin Reservoir State Park
    6.7 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • John Martin Reservoir State Park → John Martin Reservoir State Park
    0.8 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min

Notable Rapids

IV

Three Rocks

River mile 0.0

IV

Number 1

River mile 39.5

IV

Number 2

River mile 40.0

IV

Number 3

River mile 40.9

IV

Number 4

River mile 41.4

IV

Seidel's Suckhole

River mile 61.6

IV

Grateful Dead

River mile 127.7

IV

Sledgehammer

River mile 128.0

IV

Sunshine Falls

River mile 128.3

IV

Wall Slammer

River mile 128.9

IV

Boat Eater

River mile 129.4

III

Number 5

River mile 41.7

III

Number 6

River mile 42.2

III

Number 7

River mile 42.8

III

Canyon Doors

River mile 56.3

III

Pinball

River mile 56.5

III

Zoom Flume

River mile 57.2

III

Squeeze Play

River mile 57.7

III

Big Drop

River mile 58.3

III

Staircase

River mile 58.6

III

Twin Falls

River mile 61.7

III

Frog Rock

River mile 89.4

III

Three Rocks

River mile 90.4

III

The Chutes

River mile 91.8

III

El Primero

River mile 126.5

III

El Segundo

River mile 126.6

III

El Tercero

River mile 127.3

III

Pumphouse

River mile 127.7

III

Pipeline

River mile 130.3

II

Shark Tooth Rapid

River mile 0.0

II

Widowmaker

River mile 59.0

II

Spike Buck

River mile 89.4

II

Tombstone

River mile 129.8

Season Timing
Fishing
Floating
Runoff
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Regulations & Alerts

Spring Runoff Advisory

Water levels rising due to snowmelt. Exercise caution on all sections.

Browns Canyon National Monument

Special management area. No motorized boats permitted.

Catch & Release

Browns Canyon section: catch & release only for all trout species.

Bag & Possession Limits

Standard CO regulations: 4 trout per day, only 1 over 16".

Shuttle Distances

Vallie Bridge→Buena Vista State Wildlife Area

45.2 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Buena Vista State Wildlife Area→Ruby Mountain

8.3 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Ruby Mountain→Stone Bridge

11.3 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Stone Bridge→Salida East

12.1 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Salida East→Rincon

7.1 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Rincon→Lone Pine

17.6 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Lone Pine→Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

10.2 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area→Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

0.2 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area→Five Points

1.4 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Five Points→Parkdale

6.9 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

John Martin State Wildlife Area→John Martin Reservoir State Park

6.7 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

John Martin Reservoir State Park→John Martin Reservoir State Park

0.8 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

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