WATERLANDSSign in
Colorado, Arkansas, Oklahoma Rivers
Live Conditions

Arkansas River

Colorado, Arkansas, Oklahoma152 miles
Primary Flow
—
cfs
Gauge Height
—
ft
Water Temp
—
°F
Air Temp
—
°F
Basin SWE
—
in avg
Daylight
—
sunrise
5-Day Trend
—
 

River Profile

152 mi
Headwater
Mouth
BV → Arkansas HeadwatersBuena Vista State Wildlife Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area · 8.3 mi
Arkansas Headwaters → Salida EastArkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Salida East · 8 mi
Salida East → RinconSalida East → Rincon · 7 mi
Rincon → Arkansas HeadwatersRincon → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area · 17.6 mi
Arkansas Headwaters → Arkansas HeadwatersArkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area · 10.2 mi
Arkansas Headwaters → Arkansas HeadwatersArkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area · 0.2 mi
Arkansas Headwaters → Arkansas HeadwatersArkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area · 1.3 mi
Arkansas Headwaters → Arkansas HeadwatersArkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area · 7 mi
John Martin Reservoir → John Martin ReservoirJohn Martin Reservoir State Park → John Martin Reservoir State Park · 0.9 mi
0
25
50
75
100
125
150
Gauge(17)
Boat Ramp(12)
Rapid(31)
Whitewater
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Your History · Arkansas River

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Segments
9 segments
SegmentMilesRiver MileCFSStatusFloat Est.Rapids
Buena Vista State Wildlife Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
8.3RM 14.8 – 23.1——2:22hrs9max IV
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Salida East
8.0RM 23.1 – 31.1——2:17hrs—
Salida East → Rincon
7.0RM 31.1 – 38.1——2:00hrs—
Rincon → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
17.6RM 38.1 – 55.7——5:02hrs4max III
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
10.2RM 55.7 – 65.9——2:55hrs—
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
0.2RM 65.9 – 66.1——0:03hrs—
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
1.3RM 66.1 – 67.4——0:22hrs—
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
7.0RM 67.4 – 74.4——2:00hrs—
John Martin Reservoir State Park → John Martin Reservoir State Park
0.9RM 151.1 – 152.0——0:15hrs—

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
152 miles
Gauge Stations
29
Boat Ramps
13

Elevation Profile

Elevation data not yet available for this river.

Boat Ramps & Access

6 ramps
  • RM 15

    Buena Vista State Wildlife Area

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 23

    Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 31

    Salida East

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 38

    Rincon

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 151

    John Martin State Wildlife Area

    ✓ Ramp✗ Parking✗ Restroom
  • RM 151

    John Martin Reservoir State Park

    ✓ 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 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
  • Buena Vista State Wildlife Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
    8.3 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Salida East
    8 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Salida East → Rincon
    7 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Rincon → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
    17.6 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → 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 → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
    1.3 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area → Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
    7 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min
  • John Martin Reservoir State Park → John Martin Reservoir State Park
    0.9 mi
    --
    --:--
    hrs:min

Notable Rapids

IV

Number 1

River mile 9.2

IV

Number 2

River mile 9.7

IV

Number 3

River mile 10.6

IV

Number 4

River mile 11.1

IV

Seidel's Suckhole

River mile 19.8

IV

Grateful Dead

River mile 81.8

IV

Sledgehammer

River mile 82.1

IV

Sunshine Falls

River mile 82.3

IV

Wall Slammer

River mile 82.9

IV

Boat Eater

River mile 83.4

III

Number 5

River mile 11.4

III

Number 6

River mile 11.9

III

Number 7

River mile 12.4

III

Canyon Doors

River mile 14.8

III

Pinball

River mile 15.0

III

Zoom Flume

River mile 15.8

III

Squeeze Play

River mile 15.8

III

Big Drop

River mile 16.4

III

Staircase

River mile 16.8

III

Twin Falls

River mile 19.9

III

Frog Rock

River mile 43.5

III

Three Rocks

River mile 44.5

III

The Chutes

River mile 46.0

III

El Primero

River mile 80.5

III

El Segundo

River mile 80.6

III

El Tercero

River mile 81.3

III

Pumphouse

River mile 81.7

III

Pipeline

River mile 84.2

II

Widowmaker

River mile 17.2

II

Spike Buck

River mile 43.5

II

Tombstone

River mile 83.8

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

Buena Vista State Wildlife Area→Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

8.3 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area→Salida East

8 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Salida East→Rincon

7 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Rincon→Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

17.6 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area→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→Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

1.3 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area→Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

7 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

John Martin Reservoir State Park→John Martin Reservoir State Park

0.9 mi

river miles (driving distance varies)

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