Description
The Arkansas River: Leadville to Salida Fishing & River Map Guide is the perfect companion for anyone fishing, floating, or exploring the upper Arkansas River. Covering one of Colorado’s most popular river corridors, this guide highlights the unique character of the river both above and below the confluence with Lake Creek.

Upstream of Lake Creek, the river flows through broad meadow valleys with classic oxbow bends, including the scenic Hayden Meadows reach. Here, flows are largely natural and shaped by a short but powerful spring runoff. Below the confluence, the river enters the steeper, more confined Granite Gorge and the canyons that follow. In this section, water levels are influenced by releases from Twin Lakes and Turquoise Reservoirs, creating generally higher and more consistent flows throughout the summer.

Each Fishing & River Map Guide features detailed river maps at a scale of 1 inch = 1/2 mile, clearly showing every bend, rapid, and river feature. Pages are centered on the river and overlap with adjacent sections, making it easy to navigate and locate any stretch of water. The maps include rapids, river miles, access points, public and private land boundaries, gauging stations, recreation sites, and more.

Renowned Arkansas River fly fishing guide Greg Felt contributes the introduction along with expert insights on seasonal patterns and effective fly fishing strategies for the river. The guide also includes streamflow charts, hatch charts, and a comprehensive table of river access points to help anglers plan their trips.

Compact and easier to use than traditional folded maps, National Geographic’s Fishing & River Map Guide booklets are printed on “Backcountry Tough” waterproof, tear-resistant paper and bound with stainless steel staples for durability in the field. A full UTM grid is included to assist with GPS navigation.