AHRA Maps and Directions | Colorado State Parks

Maps

AHRA Visitors Center

To get yourself better oriented with the AHRA, click one of the map links below. You can contact the AHRA headquarters and Visitor’s Center at:

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Visitor’s Center
307 W. Sackett Ave.
Salida, CO 81201
(719) 539-7289 (phone)
ahra@state.co.us (e-mail)

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Map
Railroad Bridge Campground Map
Ruby Mountain Campground Map
Hecla Junction Campground Map
Rincon Campground Map
Five Points Campground Map

Directions

Unlike most other Colorado State Parks, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area does not have one set of driving directions to get to the park. This is because the AHRA “park” is actually a linear recreation area that follows the Arkansas River for 150 miles from the high mountains near Leadville, Colorado, to Lake Pueblo, on the edge of Colorado’s plains and there are a number of highways and roads entering the valley. Along the way, the AHRA has six basic campgrounds, numerous picnic areas, fishing and boating access points and trail access.

To Five Points Campground

Five Points campground is located apx. 15 miles west of Canon City off U.S. Highway 50 at mile marker 260 between the towns of Canon City and Cotopaxi. The road has a major acceleration/deceleration lane and is well marked with signs on the highway.

To Hecla Junction Campground

The exit for Hecla Junction is located on Highway 285 about a mile north of the Highway 291 exit, between mile markers 135 and 136. Turn east onto County Road 194. Drive 2.4 miles to the end of the road and you're at Hecla Junction. Caution: this is a narrow, fairly steep (12 percent grade) dirt road with a quite a bit of traffic. Low gear is recommended for the descent.

To Railroad Bridge Campground

From U.S. Highway 24, there are two ways to access Railroad Bridge. The first route is recommended if you have an RV or trailer. Take U.S. Highway 24 into the town of Buena Vista. Turn east at the only stop light in town and then travel two blocks past the railroad tracks to N. Colorado Avenue and turn left. This will turn into Chaffee County Road 371, which is a dirt road that is narrow in places. Drive 6.2 miles from where you turned onto N. Colorado Avenue and you will be at Railroad Bridge Campground. The second route is located between mile markers 201 and 202 on Highway 24 north of Buena Vista. It is not recommended for RVs or vehicles with trailers. Turn east onto Chaffee County Road 371, cross the Arkansas River and turn right. Drive 3.1 miles on a very narrow dirt road with pullouts that allows oncoming traffic to pass (Caution: 25 mph speed limit) to the Railroad Bridge Campground. If you continue south from the campground on County Road 371, it will take you into Buena Vista

To Rincon Campground

Rincon is off of Highway 50 about eight miles east of Salida. It is located at mile marker 231 between the towns of Swissvale and Howard. The exit is located on the north side on a very curvy section of the highway.

To Ruby Mountain Campground

The exit for Ruby Mountain is located south of Buena Vista on U.S. Highway 285, between mile markers l44 and 145. Turn east (towards the river) on Chaffee County Road 301, which can be identified by the large, yellow River Runners signs. Go across the river to the end of the pavement and turn right onto County Road 300. Drive 2.4 miles to the Ruby Mountain Campground and Recreation Site. Caution should be used when entering the campground because the road is a narrow single lane, with limited visibility and a 15 mph speed limit.

Vallie Bridge Campground

From U.S. Highway 50 at mile marker 239 between the towns of Howard and Coaldale, apx 20 miles east of Salida. Turn north onto Fremont County Road 45, cross the river and park in the day use site. Please note this is a boat in/walk in only campground and you will have to unload your equipment and park at the designatied parking area. Vallie Bridge campground can be accessed from the beach for campers who boat in, and there is a walking trail that goes from the campground, across County Road 45 to the restroom.

AHRA Visitor Center

To get to the AHRA Visitor Center from the intersection of Highways 285/24 at Johnson Village, go south on Highway 285, drive 14 miles to Hwy 291, turn left, drive 8 miles to G St and turn left at the Skateboard Park where G is a one-way street. Go to the end of this block which intersects with Sackett. The AHRA Visitor Center is the brick building with a blue roof on the corner of G and Sackett Streets. From the intersection of Highways 50/291, turn north on Hwy 291 (1st Street), go one block past the stop light to G Street, turn right 1 block to Sackett Ave, turn left. The Visitor center is on left corner of Sackett and G Streets.

Last Modified Date:10/4/2011 1:08 PM

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