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. . . OOlHli3 Region 2: ARKANSAS RIVER DRAINAGE Arkansas River - To many boaters, particularly kayakers, the Arkansas is considered among the best of the whitewater rivers in the United States. Its high volume, varied terrain and relatively long season make it a suitable river - at different locations - for many types of boaters. The river begins in the mountains above Leadville but boater use begins near the town of Granite, at which point the river has gained enough volume and speed to be appealing to boaters. From Granite to Buena Vista the course is rough and rocky, with a great deal of maneuvering necessary for a successful run. This stretch is used only by kayakers and whitewater canoeists. See Map 3 and Table 3. Below Buena Vista the river enters Brown's Canyon, another difficult stretch but one which has sufficient water volume that it now supports even commercial raft use. These two stretches make up over half of the total use on the Arkansas. The stretch from Sa1ida to Parkda1e, while interesting, is not as difficult to navigate and supports more diverse types of boating. Commer- cial raft use is high, as well as private raft, kayak, and canoe use. This is the site of the International Sa1ida Downriver Race held each year in June. Below Parkda1e, the river has hewn the Royal Gorge. Boating use in the Gorge is small, suitable for expert kayakers and canoeists only. After leaving the Gorge the river becomes a plains river, slow and winding, and receives very little boater use. Overall, the Arkansas receives a great deal more private boater use than most other rivers in the state. It is -22-