Whitewater Parks near Vail, Colorado

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Welcome to ThinkVail – We hope you find this article about whitewater parks near Vail, Colorado helpful. This list of local whitewater parks in western Colorado ensures boaters and spectators enjoy a beautiful day riverside.

What is a Whitewater Park?

Whitewater parks, also known as kayak parks are dedicated areas on rivers constructed with boulders or man-made features to create waves, holes and eddies that allow boaters to hone their boating skills while having fun. Whether you enjoy kayaking, rafting, canoeing, SUP, packrafting, fishing, swimming, tubing, picnicking or just spectating these whitewater parks offer tons of recreational opportunities throughout the summer months.


When’s it Open?

Whitewater parks in Colorado are generally open from May though September but the actual season is dependent on the weather, the spring snow melt-off and the daily water flow of the river. Some park features may become too powerful to safely paddle during really big waters in the spring, likewise, if we have a very dry winter, the rivers may be too low by August to support boaters.


Important Details

Whitewater parks in Colorado sit at high elevations, usually above 7,000 ft. and rivers running with freshly melted snow are very COLD. You must dress accordingly, wear a wet suit, a dry top, river shoes, and gloves to maintain body heat. In many places, you will need to wear these items into July or even August.

There are no fees or drop-in usage costs but paddlers use these areas at their own risk, as all parks are unsupervised. Helmets and personal flotation devices are required for safety. Also remember, during the spring run-off these rivers can be BIG and the river class increases. Make sure your abilities are equal to the class of river, or section of river, you are planning to run.

Whitewater parks are a great place to relax by yourself or with family, friends, kids and your favorite pooch. Well-behaved dogs on a leash are generally allowed in park areas but if you’re boating with your kids or dog, don’t forget a pint-sized PFD and a doggie life vest to keep them safe.


Check Water Flows

Check water levels and water flows before hitting these water parks so you know what to expect. You can monitor water flows by visiting the USGS website.

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See Also: Best River Shoes


Vail Whitewater Park


Completed in 2010, the Vail Whitewater Park is located in the heart of Vail Village, near Checkpoint Charlie where the International Bridge spans Gore Creek. This innovative park features an inflatable system designed to read the daily water level and automatically adjust to create an optimal wave for playboating. This makes the perfect wave for kayaks to surf in the spring and summer.

The whitewater park is bordered by the lovely Gore Creek Promenade, a grassy area and pedestrian walking area that is lined by restaurants, galleries and boutique shops and runs along the banks of the creek. This scenic, relaxing setting provides an ideal viewing spots for spectators and picnickers who want to watch all the action.

  • The Vail Whitewater Park is home to the popular Vail summer whitewater race series, the summer Mountain GoPro Games and other exciting boating competitions throughout the summer.
  • Boaters should park in the Vail Village Parking Structure and put in upstream to access the park or access from the river if you put in anywhere from upstream and float down.
  • The park is open from mid-May through July, conditions permitting

vailgov.com

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Avon Whitewater Park


The Avon Whitewater Park was built in 2006 and creates a challenging, fun play area for all types of boaters on the Eagle River in Avon, CO. The park boasts three river features that perform optimally at different water levels so that boaters can play throughout the spring and summer. The water features are Baby Bob, Bob Jr., and Bob Sr. Whitewater Park and offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced paddling opportunities. Beware, in big spring runoffs the Bob Sr. wave can get very sticky and dangerous so be aware what the water level is and what your paddling abilities are before you tackle this one.

Whether you are a rafter, kayaker, canoer, paddle boarder or fisherman, this exhilarating section of river offers something for everyone throughout the season.

  • There is also terrace spectator seating and large flat boulders on the banks of the river, perfect for watching all the fun or enjoying a picnic riverside.
  • The Whitewater Park is located just a few blocks south of the town center, directly under “Bob the Bridge” on Avon Road, Avon’s Whitewater Park is 350 feet in length and offers a fun freestyle kayaking experience.
  • The Avon Recreation Center, just downriver from the park, offers kayak lessons and water safety instruction at its indoor pool to get you started kayaking.
  • Boaters can park at Beaver Creek’s Elk Lot located on Highway 6. There is also a convenient drop-off location on the north side of Highway 6 just west of “Bob The Bridge.”
  • The park is open from mid-May through July, conditions permitting

avon.org

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Eagle River Park


The Eagle River Park is the newest whitewater park in the area completed in 2019. It is a lovely 4.3-acre park that features two main components; the in-stream design and construction of a new world-class whitewater park and the Upland Park on the north side of the Colorado River. The park wraps along the Eagle River near the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo Grounds and Chambers Park in Eagle, CO.

This world-class whitewater park boasts four in-stream features for lots of fun and challenging play-boating. There is a beginner and intermediate wave features that is perfect practice for kayakers and paddle boarders. There is also two other more powerful and challenging waves for experienced boaters and a bypass chute, just in case you realize last minute that this is not for you! These bigger waves are perfect for loops, cartwheels and other freestyle tricks.

Eagle River Park is the first park in the world to use Rapid Bock pads to adjust the feature drops, waves and pools as needed by adding or removing blocks. It features waves, eddies, chutes, and drops that are fun to tube and float during low water times, but increase in size and power as the spring run off flow increases.

  • Spectators and picnickers can enjoy large grassy areas and terraced rock benches, boat ramp, bathrooms and the Upland park area.
  • Ample parking is available on site at the park.
  • The park is open from mid-May through September, conditions permitting

eagleoutside.com

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GLENWOOD WHITEWATER PARK


Since 2008, the Glenwood Whitewater Park with its main attraction, the G-wave feature, has been the perfect place for kayakers, stand up paddle boarders, and other boaters to show off and practice their skills.

Depending on the time of year, flows can range from 4,000 to 22,000 cubic feet per second. The park has 4 features including a large standing wave, a hole on river left, a smaller standing wave on river right and learning pools for practicing skills. During spring run-off when water levels are at their highest, the features blends to form one very wide wave. You can bypass these features and maintain stream navigability at all flows by using bypass area on far river right.

This innovative park boasts the distinction of being the first park to have a whitewater feature built on any stretch of the Colorado River

  • Spectators enjoy terraced seating and an unimpeded view of paddlers practicing and performing tricks. There are lots of wide flat rocks and a small beach-like area.
  • The Glenwood Whitewater Park gained national recognition when it was chosen as the site for the 2009 U.S. Freestyle Kayaking Team Trials.
  • This popular paddling destination is located on the river in West Glenwood Springs, CO immediately off Interstate-70 exit #114 in West Glenwood, just upstream of the Midland Avenue Bridge. Parking is available at a small parking lot just across Devereux Avenue from the park. Additional parking is available1/3 mile up Midland Avenue in the RFTA lot. Boaters crossing Midland Avenue should be aware of traffic and always use the crosswalk.
  • The park is open from May through September, conditions permitting

visitglenwood.com

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Clear Creek Whitewater Park


One of the longest established whitewater parks in the area, Clear Creek Whitewater Park opened in 1998 and is one of Golden Colorado’s most unique recreational areas. The park offers a 1/4 mile competitive course of exhilarating, splashing fun and seven city blocks of whitewater activity on Clear Creek, this whole section is ideal for kayakers, rafters, canoeist and experienced stand-up paddle boarders.

Clear Creek Whitewater Park is divided into three sections. The entire course is 800 ft in length and built with natural boulders and offers fast moving, cold water challenges. The top section is a series of drops and pools of different experience levels with some fast eddies. Farther on, the middle section features flat, broad, shallow surf waves with huge random boulders and the final bottom section offers advanced paddlers with more extreme surf and wave drops.

  • The Clear Creek Competitive Whitewater Course has hosted various events including the Colorado School of Mines Spring Icebreaker, The Clear Creek Whitewater Festival, The Open Canoe Championships, The Junior Olympic Championships, and the Eddie Bauer Invitational to name a few. The U.S. Olympic Kayak Team is also known to practice at this course.
  • Boaters should park at Lions Park, which is adjacent from the whitewater park. Vanover Park is also available for parking and provides a take-out site for those continuing downstream after the course.
  • The Golden Parks and Recreation Department offers lessons at the local indoor pool if you are interested in safely learning how to kayak. The park is open from May through September, conditions permitting

CityofGolden.net

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Buena Vista Whitewater Park


Thanks to the beautiful Arkansas River, Buena Vista boasts one of the finest whitewater parks in Colorado. The riverside park is over a 1/2 mile long and includes five (5) water features and numerous eddies and is a popular destination for amateur boaters and professional whitewater competitors alike. The features consist of the Uptown Wave, the Downtown Feature, and the LoDo Wave. These man-made artificial waves are perfect for beginners, intermediates and expert kayaks and stand-up paddle boarders. Small play boats can ride a wave or cavort in a hole all day long and entertain spectators who watch and cheer them on.

These water features work well in a wide range of river flows, so the park can enjoy a longer season.

  • The park also offers changing rooms, ample parking, beaches, gazebos, shade structures, trails, climbing walls and boulders to climb for a fun day for the whole family or a group of friends.
  • The park is located next to the South Main neighborhood with lots of fantastic restaurants, galleries, boutiques and shopping.
  • The Buena Vista Play Park is a premier whitewater park in Colorado and worthy of a visit.

Buenavistacolorado.org

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Salida Whitewater Park


The Salida Whitewater Park was created in 2000 and boasts several man-made waves and holes that will please any paddler from the beginner to the expert. This park is made up of four (4) world-class waves, a slalom course and is one of the best kayak surf and rodeo parks in the country. It is the ideal spot on the Arkansas River for kayaking, rafting, paddle boarding and tubing fun!

  • The park is awesome for spectators as well. Enjoy a beautiful day riverside, while relaxing on the creative bank terracing. Enjoy the outdoor amphitheater, rock climbing wall and have lunch at one of the many cool, hip restaurants that line the banks of the Arkansas River.
  • This whitewater park in the historic downtown district of Salida, CO is home to the oldest whitewater festival in the United States, The FIBARK Festival every year in June.
  • Park is open March – October conditions permitting

CityofSalida.com

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See Also: Best Dry Bags for Boating


Comments

We hope you found this article about whitewater parks near Vail, Colorado helpful. Have you visited any of these whitewater parks? Which was your favorite and why? Do you usually come to the park with family and friends? Where is your favorite place to boat? What is your favorite feature of a whitewater park? Do you have any great stories about paddling in a whitewater park? We would love to hear your experiences. Thank you for your thoughts, comments and thanks for reading.

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