Salida Town Run (Stone Bridge to Salida WW Park)
Colorado – US
- Class
- II to III
- Length
- 12 Mile(s)
- Put-in elevation
- 7,183 Feet
- Typical season
- April to August
Current Flow
224 CFS
Gauge height: 3.48 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 10:45 PM
▼ -0.25/hr (12h) ▼ -0.13/hr (24h)
Don't bother
- Primary gauge
- ARKANSAS RIVER NEAR NATHROP, CO Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 500 |
| Average | 1,800 |
| Maximum | 4,000 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
If you are looking for a longer run that ends in some of the best play waves in the country then this is for you. This section has some rapids and flatwater above the town that is good for beginners to lose their training wheels. See the Salida Whitewater Park on the river listings for info about that.
This section can actually be easier at normal to higher water flows since it will be less bony and less rock maneuvering.
For putin click here
For takeout click here
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squaw Creek Rapid | II+ to III | 600–4,000 | This rapid is a debris fan from the Squaw Creek drainage on river right. At low water navigating through the river bed can be challenging with all the rocks. At higher flows this area gets easier. |
Scout from the road |
| 2 | Shavano Hatchery low-head dam | III | 600–4,000 | As you approach the town of Salida there is a dam you will want to avoid. There are warning signs posted as you get near the dam when heading down river. Make sure to scout and run the boat chutes on river left. |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | Big Bend River Acccess | 7,183 Feet | No | No | No | All Vehicles | From Highway 285 take the access road just north of Salida where the Arkansas and the Highway run side by side. |
Camps
No river camps added yet.
Permit
No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
External Links & Resources
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Community Run Notes
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