Trails

The AHRA has a wide variety of trails for every outdoor enthusiast, from the hiker to the to mountain biker and OHV rider.

The AHRA has a variety of trails originating from campgrounds and day use sites. Look for the names of these sites on the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Map and Brochure.

• Hayden Meadows, at the northern end of AHRA, has ADA accessible interpretive and fishing trails, 5 wetland boardwalks, and 2 bridges surrounding a small reservoir.
• Collegiate Peaks Group Picnic Area: is at the head of both the Midland Bike Trail, Barbara Whipple Trail and Four Mile systems, which offer miles of scenic motorized and non-motorized routes for all skill levels.
• At the Ruby Mountain campground, both the FourMile trail system and the Browns Canyon Wilderness Study Area (WSA) can be accessed.  FourMile is designated for both motorized and nonmotorized use, while Browns Canyon WSA is for nonmotorized use only.
• Below the Hecla Junction Campground a ¾ mile foot trail leads downstream along the shoreline to Seidel’s Suckhole, which is a great place to watch and photograph whitewater rafting in the summer and offers excellent fishing in the spring and summer.
• Lone Pine Recreation Site has a designated river trail approximately 1/2 mile in length that begins near the restrooms and picnic site on the east end.  This trail is used for wildlife and river viewing as well as fishing access.
• McIntyre Hills Wilderness Study Area (WSA) can be accessed from the Five Points Campground.  A trail begins between campsites #4 and #5, but much of the McIntyre Hills WSA is comprised of undesignated, or social, trails.  A trail map on the entrance station shows the trail’s alignment.

OHV trail riding

There are many trails for off-highway vehicle riding in the AHRA. These include the Four Mile and Texas Creek Management Area.  View additional US Forest Service trails also. 

Other Public Lands Trails

If hiking is part of your vacation plan, AHRA can direct you to trails originating from our sites or can even give you information on climbing a “fourteener”, a mountain that is 14,000 or more feet high. See the Trails section for descriptions of trails leading from the Arkansas river access points, picnic areas and campgrounds. There are also many popular hikes in the surrounding San Isabel National Forest.For more information, also see Central Colorado Hiking and Backpacking Information, and the Pike/San Isabel National Forest Recreation page.