A fun year round whitewater park for kayakers, rafters, and SUP paddlers. Public, freindly and free. The Buena Vista River Park is the cornerstone of the community.
Buena Vista Whitewater Park
Colorado – US
- Class
- II+ to III+
- Length
- 1 Mile(s)
- Typical season
- March to October
- Author
- Earl Richmond
Current Flow
148 CFS
Gauge height: 11.08 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 9:45 PM
▼ -0.50/hr (12h) ▼ -0.25/hr (24h)
Too Low
Don't bother
- Primary gauge
- ARKANSAS RIVER BELOW GRANITE, CO Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 200 |
| Average | 1,000 |
| Maximum | 5,000 |
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
Description
This park has 5 or so holes/waves. Found at the end of Main street in Buena Vista, CO. There are 2 main locations. The upper starts at the soccer field area adjacent to the Whipple Bridge which crosses the river. That is the Uptown Wave. The second access area is to the south and is accessable in the South Main Neighborhood. Both are public put ins and take outs. The park is fun at all levels. Anything 250 cfs plus makes it worth a trip to play in the park.
Rapids
No rapids added yet.
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park-n-Play | Buena Vista Main Street | — | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Find Main Street in Buena Vista, CO and head east until it ends at the river and park |
Camps
| Camp | Fee | Beach | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elephant Rock | No | No | From E Main St in Buena Vista, head north on Colorado Ave 3.2 miles and throught the tunnels. Camp ground is on the left side. BLM, free for up to 15 days |
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
No external links or resources added yet.
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Community Run Notes
Total community notes: 1
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