Conditions

Boat Ramps - 5/22/2013 All ramps are Open. The river's coming up! Boating - 5/22/2013 Happy Spring! Boating is picking up. April Showers brought May Flows! Camping - 5/22/2013 All campgrounds are open, barring bad weather. Fires are allowed at developed AHRA sites in permanently constructed fire grills and pits. Cooking stoves, lanterns and other appliances fueled by liquid petroleum or bottled fuels that are equipped with an on-off valve for the flame are also allowed. TAKE CARE WITH CAMP STOVES (place in an area clear of vegetation)! Firepans and charcoal grills with rigid sides at least 2" tall and set off the ground are allowed at non-developed AHRA areas. No Fireworks, all ATV and Motorcycles MUST HAVE FUNCTIONING SPARK ARRESTORS. Stay tuned for updates on current conditions. All AHRA campgrounds are open year-round, barring severe weather, and are available for use on a first come - first served basis. AHRA campsites are now on-line for reservations beginning April 1 through September 30, 2013. There are no potable water or hookups at any AHRA campground. Remember to bring your own drinking water and pack all trash in and out. Outside of AHRA developed campgrounds, campers must use a porta potty system. Also, bears are ACTIVE and it is important to use your best "Bear Aware" precautions in securing your camp or picnic area to avoid unnecessary contact with wildlife. Here is Colorado’s Division of Wildlife link on Black Bears. http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/Mammals/LivingWithBearsL1.htm Campsites are now available for reservations through September 30. Book ahead to save your spot this summer! Cell Phone Coverage - 5/22/2013 Cell phone coverage can be sketchy in the canyons and at campgrounds. Construction - 5/22/2013 Small jobs and boat ramp work along the river, getting ready for the season. Ruby Mountain Campground amphitheater has a new look and is ready and waiting for naturalist programs to begin again. Fire Restrictions - 5/22/2013 Fires are allowed at developed AHRA sites in permanently constructed fire grills and pits. Cooking stoves, lanterns and other appliances fueled by liquid petroleum or bottled fuels that are equipped with an on-off valve for the flame are also allowed. TAKE CARE WITH CAMP STOVES (place in an area clear of vegetation)! Firepans and charcoal grills with rigid sides at least 2" tall and set off the ground are allowed at non-developed AHRA areas. No Fireworks, all ATV and Motorcycles MUST HAVE FUNCTIONING SPARK ARRESTORS. Stay tuned for updates on current conditions. For more fire conditions information go to http://www.coemergency.com/p/fire-bans-and-fire-danger-rating.html Fishing Report - 5/22/2013 May 17 Buena Vista to Salida: "Great fishing is to be had on the upper reaches of the Arkansas this weekend! It is finally Spring on the river above Browns Canyon all the way to Leadville, and with it comes the snowmelt. With flows on the upper Ark taking a big jump in the past few days, we are seeing a significant scouring of debris from this winter and last year. The result is off color water and slightly lower water temps that will direct the trout to the edge water and newly submerged structure. With cooler weather forecast for the weekend, we should see the waterclarity stabilize and hungry fish take advantage." May 18 Below Salida: "...One of the keys to fishing during runoff is identifying where the divot is and moving with that through the course of the day. At current flows, there are divots in the morning up in Hayden Meadows and the Granite area. There is also generally stable morning water around Howard/Coaldale as well. Other tips for fishing in these conditions includes using large nymphs and streamers, particularly patterns with contrast such as prince nymphs, and seeking out water that does not change substantially with changes in flow. Areas with substantial structure or larger eddies will provide stability for fish and interrupt their feeding patterns less than the little shoreline pockets we often target." See also http://wildlife.state.co.us/Fishing/Reports/FisherySurveySummaries/Pages/FisherySurveySummaries.aspx Park Entrance - 5/22/2013 AHRA's Salida Visitor Center is open 7 days a week from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, closed noon-1 pm Saturday and Sunday for lunch. Annual State Parks Passes, OHV and Boat registrations are available, as well as BLM firewood and mining permits, Fishing licenses, and lots of maps and information about AHRA and the general area. The VC is also a sales outlet for the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA), selling a variety of books and maps regarding the State of Colorado and the upper Arkansas River valley and mountains. All AHRA recreation sites and campgrounds are open year-round, barring extreme weather. Self-Serve pay stations for day passes and camping permits are located at AHRA recreation sites. Road Conditions - 5/22/2013 Roads can be rough in places. Use caution. Watch for rocks on the roads in Bighorn Sheep Canyon between Salida and Canon City, and always be aware of oncoming traffic. Spring Colors - 5/22/2013 The color right now is still white for the mountains! Grass is greening, and trees are starting to leaf out, and wildflowers won't be far behind. Hiking and biking are picking up with warmer spring weather slowly moving in. High country snowpack can be unstable and avalanche danger increases. Go to https://avalanche.state.co.us/index.php for more information. Trails - 5/22/2013 Trails along the river and adjacent areas are clear, but still snow at higher elevations. Water Levels - 5/22/2013 Flows: Numbers 462 cfs; Hecla 581 cfs; Wellsville 496 cfs; Parkdale 553 cfs. Expect flows to rise as the weather warms again. Weather - 5/22/2013 Warming up this week with chance of scattered showers in the afternoon. The weekend is going to be warm and sunny with daytime highs in the 70's, and nighttime lows in the 40's. Breezy at times. Dress in layers!