Colorado Whitewater Rafting, The Arkansas River, World Class Whitewater Rivers
Colorado has quite a few world class rivers, but one of the best and highest Whitewater destinations in the world is right here at our back door, at the edge of your Colorado RV Park, the Four Seasons RV Resort. This world class Whitewater Rafting River and Fishing River is the Upper Watershed of the Arkansas River, located in a natural and managed area called the Arkansas River Headwaters Area of Colorado.
The Arkansas River Headwaters is located in Chaffee County, with towns of Salida Colorado, Buena Vista Colorado, and Leadville to name a few. There are plenty of services, historic towns, shopping, restaurants, great pizza, and even great night spots.
World Class Fishing on the Arkansas River, Salida Colorado
The Fourteeners, Collegiate Peaks, and Continental Divide are huge Mountains and Mountain Range in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. These Giant Colorado Mountains run the western edge of Chaffee County, And feature huge opportunity for hiking, biking, and ski resorts. This is the snow that melts, creating the fast gradient water of the Arkansas River. Lakes and valleys store snow to be released in the spring, providing world class river levels with great historical years of river levels.
This mountain range includes the largest mountain in the entire Continental United States
The Arkansas River runs the length of the Chaffee county valley of the Arkansas River, as well as the old mining Rail Road tracks. Many places of the Arkansas River are located right at the edges of town, with features such as play holes built into the body of the river at key points. Play holes are located in Buena Vista and Salida Colorado. There are many features along the Arkansas River for whitewater playboating, as well as numerous whitewater rafting companies. Whitewater Rafting is a large draw, and respected industry here, with Colorado behind them in support of great access locations, water features, and parks to enjoy the Arkansas River Valley and features.
Beautiful Colorado Scenery Everywhere!
Colorado Fishing is world class on the Arkansas River. With the number of access on the Arkansas River, there are plenty of places to be able to get to on US 50 highway. Nearly the entire river is visible from the highway, and there are numerous accesses, many in extremely favorable and accessable areas for fishing.
Colorado Float River Fishing is also available with your own fishing and rowing rafts, or fishing guides are numerous and available throughout the valley, complete with the fishing expertise to make your trip more valuable and successful. Time is rare, and the availability of services are plenty, so enjoy your time wisely with local help!
The Arkansas River has some of the best whitewater rafting in the state of Colorado! Sections include:
Pine Creek – Class 4-5 for sure. This is an upper Arkansas River watershed “expert” run. This is very challenging, for the adrenaline junkie for sure.
The Numbers – Class 3-5 for sure, slightly easier, not saying much for relative. Most popular for family adventure trips, more frequent choice for active members of family that want to go together.
Browns Canyon – Class 3-4, One of the most popular sections for visitors that is thrilling, exciting, scenic, and rapids with names like; zoom floom, pinball, 7 steps, toilet bowl, Sidel suck hole, the narrows, elephant rock, tons of cool rapids!
Salida to Rincon – Class 2-3, Most famous for a world class colorado mountain fishing experience, this is indeed a great fishing stretch and easier to kayak or raft, but also includes the surf hole at Salida. Want to work on your whitewater boat surfing skills, then have dinner at the Boathouse? Sounds like a great day to me, and no shuttle required for that action!
Big Horn Sheep Canyon – Class 1-4, more of the fishing section of the river, yet beautiful canyon area with big horn sheep. Enjoy the scenery with slow sections, and noisy rapids up ahead.
Parkdale – Class 3-5, This is a good trial run for the gorge, ending right before the last exit, Parkdale access, you will have wanted to like it before you enter the big one, the Royal Gorge. This run is still definately a whitewater trip with respect including three rocks, 5 points, sharks tooth, and spikebuck. Ok, there is puppys tail, but depending on level, don’t let that river rapid name fool you.
Royal Gorge – Class 4-5, World famous for the Royal Gorge geological feature that include 1000 foot plus tall sheer rock canyon walls, the Arkansas River run in the Royal Gorge is nothing but world class, in rapids, scenery, experience and feel. There is also that fact, that there is only one way out of this area in most places, and that is down stream. The royal gorge is a commitment to finish by natural design. Recognizing that you could be swimming rapids is recommended. This is why you must be 18 years old to run the gorge unless you have a parent with you. Some want to run the biggest, the baddest, and this is it, just right down the river from us…
Four Seasons RV Resort is Located at the Eastern edge of Salida Colorado, close to services, and located waterfront, riverfront of the Arkansas River. You can fish or launch your personal boat here and enjoy the location without driving anywhere.
Enjoy Colorado’s premier CO RV Park, Four Seasons RV Resort, in Salida Colorado. CO RV Park.com
