Arkansas
02. Numbers Launch to Railroad Bridge Launch(The Numbers)
| Difficulty | IV |
| Length | 6.4 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 71 fpm |
| Gauge | Arkansas River Below Granite, Co |
| Flow Rate as of 31 minutes | 193 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 5, 2025 |
Projects
Browns Canyon National Monument was designated in 2015 to protect one of Colorado’s most cherished stretches of river and surrounding public lands. Flowing between Buena Vista and Salida, the Arkansas River through Browns Canyon offers some of the most popular whitewater in the nation—combining exhilarating rapids with sweeping granite [...]Read More
River Description
The Numbers is widely considered just about the best Class IV run in the state of Colorado. At low levels, the river channelizes and is fun IV- down to about 300cfs for playboaters. At about 1000cfs the rapids graduate to IV proper, and over 2200cfs they take on a IV+ character.
There are six major Class IV rapids creatively named number 1 through 6, although most takeout shortly after #5. Rapid #1 is the most technical, but #4 and #5 generally have the most carnage. Above 3000cfs, the run takes on a big water character, massive holes abound. At these levels, a powerful 8-foot surfing wave forms at the base of rapid #1.5.
Much of the land on either side of the river is private property, so scouting is most likely illegal. Do what you have to do to be safe. As noted above, most people take out just after #5 where there is an abundance of unofficial takeouts. If the water level is medium to high, consider making the most of a short run and takeout below #6 at the railroad trestle.
Elevations: The river at the launch area is about 8,640 feet, while the take out at the railroad trestle is about 8,247 feet.
Other Information Sources:
Colorado Rivers and Creeks II, by Banks and Eckardt (The Bible)
See also
Pinecreek (Class IV/V),
The Numbers (Class IV),
Fractions/ Frogrock/ Milkrun (Class III),
Buena Vista (Class III),
Browns Canyon (Class III),
...River Features
Put In Stealth
Put In Numbers Launch Area
Pay a state park fee to park and launch here. State Parks manages this location, but access was acquired with the efforts of American Whitewater.
#1
This rapid has a lot of lines and fun eddies. Enter left-of-center or right-of-center. Pick your adventure while dodging rocks and holes.
Scott's Bridge
#1.5
Changes with the flow.
#2
At 2300 - 2500cfs, enter in river-center and follow the flow down the middle.
#3
This rapid has a meaningful hole in the top middle at ~2400cfs. There was a narrow, smooth line down the left and a more extensive smooth line down the right, but had to cut back left at the bottom (after passing the hole) to miss a rock. Just go right or left to avoid the top center hole and read-and-run from there.
#4
Run center left to avoid the meat of the wave holes just to the left. Stay away from the diversion channel halfway down on the river-right bank, and a pour-over rock (pour-over @ 2300cfs, probably sticking out of the water at lower water level) on river left. Don't get complacent when you are done with the rapid as there were a few holes in the bottom left of the runout of the rapid.
You can scout #4 from the river-left bank. There is a dirt road close to this rapid, and you can drive up to see it before putting on the river or get out above the rapid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaVt0cqg2GU&feature=youtu.be
371 Bridge
#5
This rapid follows immediately after a bridge. The river makes an S turn, right then left. There is a private house on river left, so you can't scout. There are some good eddy's on the river right bank near the entrance tongue just passed the bridge so you can take a break and evaluate your line.
Either punch the hole right down the middle (it's pretty forgiving at most flows). Alternatively, at levels >= 1000cfs, catch the eddy just behind the rock at the top of the rapid. It's a fun boof. Peel out and follow the flow.
Take Out below #5
Some people like to do a short run and take out below #5. Just after passing underneath powerlines, take out on river left. There are large turnouts that provide easy access to and from the public road.
#6
I recall starting center left, driving to the right to avoid a hole on the left. I aimed for a small rock island on the right side of the flow as a landmark. Once passed the rock island on the left side, I drove back to the left to avoid a hole on the right.
Railroad Bridge Take out
As the railroad bridge comes into view, look for a developed boat ramp on river left.
There are a few campsites here along with toilets.
Trip Reports
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Fast-paced, continuous, short, but incredibly fun - Eli Monnin
Feb 7, 2025
Ran for the first time at 2300 in summer of 2024 and it felt like it was pretty close to the perfect level. An incredibly fun, fast-paced, heart pounding run in our raft with big holes and many necessary moves. INCREDIBLY CONTINUOUS. There are certainly places to pull over but if you go in early July like we did, many are likely too crowded for larger boats. I would say expect to padle this one all the way through if you are going at flows above low water. At 2300 it took our 3 boat trip with no carnage less than 45 minutes. Despite 'only' being class IV-IV+, the continous nature of this run means this is probably not a good choice for the beginner-intermediate paddler and you shouldn't even think about it if you aren't confident in your ability to self-rescue in a rapid. I haven't run Royal Gorge at anything above 1200, so take this next statement with a grain of salt but I thought the Numbers were more challenging and much harder to scout. If you are confident in your skills this is an incredible run you won't want to miss with the Fractions right downstream providing a less intense but still very fun option to make this a full-day trip.
When we did this, we used 3 cars, parked one at Numbers Launch, one at Railroad with our lunch and other provisions in it, and one in Buena Vista. If I were to run this section again and had the option I would probably do it like this again as it was nice to take a break and decompress before another incredibly continous but fun stretch of river.
Ratt Boy
Jan 1, 1900
Photo courtesy of and copyright by www.allaboutrivers.com.
