WATERLANDSSign in
Colorado, Arkansas, Oklahoma Rivers
Live Conditions

Arkansas River

Colorado, Arkansas, Oklahoma24 miles
Primary Flow
—
cfs
Gauge Height
—
ft
Water Temp
—
°F
Air Temp
—
°F
Basin SWE
—
in avg
Daylight
—
sunrise
5-Day Trend
—
 

River Profile

24 mi
Headwater
Mouth
Parkdale → Arkansas HeadwatersParkdale → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area · 0.2 mi
Arkansas Headwaters → Stone BridgeArkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Stone Bridge · 3.1 mi
Rincon → John Martin ReservoirRincon → John Martin Reservoir State Park · 0.6 mi
John Martin Reservoir → John Martin ReservoirJohn Martin Reservoir State Park → John Martin Reservoir State Park · 0.9 mi
John Martin Reservoir → BVJohn Martin Reservoir State Park → Buena Vista State Wildlife Area · 0.8 mi
0
5
10
15
20
Boat Ramp(18)
Rapid(33)
Whitewater
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Gauge Stations
0 mainstem · live, 48h
USGS · Live
Segments
5 segments
SegmentMilesRiver MileCFSStatusFloat Est.Rapids
Parkdale → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
0.2RM 0.0 – 0.2——0:03hrs9max IV
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Stone Bridge
3.1RM 0.2 – 3.3——0:53hrs20max IV
Rincon → John Martin Reservoir State Park
0.6RM 3.3 – 3.9——0:10hrs2max III
John Martin Reservoir State Park → John Martin Reservoir State Park
0.9RM 3.9 – 4.8——0:15hrs1max III
John Martin Reservoir State Park → Buena Vista State Wildlife Area
0.8RM 4.8 – 5.6——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
24 miles
Gauge Stations
0
Boat Ramps
5

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 0

    Ruby Mountain

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 0

    Salida East

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 0

    Lone Pine

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 0

    Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

    ✓ 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 — Late June

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
  • Parkdale → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
    0.2 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Stone Bridge
    3.1 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Rincon → John Martin Reservoir State Park
    0.6 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • John Martin Reservoir State Park → John Martin Reservoir State Park
    0.9 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • John Martin Reservoir State Park → Buena Vista State Wildlife Area
    0.8 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min

Notable Rapids

IV

Three Rocks

River mile 0.0

IV

Number 1

River mile 0.0

IV

Number 2

River mile 0.5

IV

Number 3

River mile 1.4

IV

Number 4

River mile 1.9

IV

Seidel's Suckhole

River mile 0.0

IV

Grateful Dead

River mile 1.5

IV

Sledgehammer

River mile 1.8

IV

Sunshine Falls

River mile 2.0

IV

Wall Slammer

River mile 2.6

IV

Boat Eater

River mile 3.1

III

Number 5

River mile 2.2

III

Number 6

River mile 2.7

III

Number 7

River mile 3.2

III

Canyon Doors

River mile 0.0

III

Pinball

River mile 0.2

III

Zoom Flume

River mile 1.0

III

Squeeze Play

River mile 0.0

III

Big Drop

River mile 0.6

III

Staircase

River mile 1.0

III

Twin Falls

River mile 0.1

III

Frog Rock

River mile 8.7

III

Three Rocks

River mile 9.7

III

The Chutes

River mile 11.2

III

El Primero

River mile 0.2

III

El Segundo

River mile 0.3

III

El Tercero

River mile 1.0

III

Pumphouse

River mile 1.4

III

Pipeline

River mile 3.9

II

Shark Tooth Rapid

River mile 0.0

II

Widowmaker

River mile 1.4

II

Spike Buck

River mile 8.7

II

Tombstone

River mile 3.5

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

Parkdale→Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

0.2 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area→Stone Bridge

3.1 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Rincon→John Martin Reservoir State Park

0.6 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

John Martin Reservoir State Park→John Martin Reservoir State Park

0.9 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

John Martin Reservoir State Park→Buena Vista State Wildlife Area

0.8 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

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