Wave Description:

Another artificial park in the Ark valley that gives up some good surfing. It’s no coincidence that Badfish Paddleboards makes their home in Salida. Features vary on flow, but generally you’ll find wave holes that give up friendly surfs over 300 cfs.

In the fall of 2022 Salida completed the Scout Wave 2.0 project. Even at low flows (350 cfs or so), it’s produced a wide, glassy sheet wave, along the lines of a wider Sixx at River Run Park. We haven’t seen higher flows through the completed structure yet, but so far things are looking great. The new wave is just downstream of the F Street Bridge.

Gauge Information:

Anything over 300 cfs on the Nathrop gauge should get you something here, but more water is usually better until things get scary; where that happens depends on your skill and tolerances, but could be as low as 1,500 or as high as never. Here is an alternative gauge, since the Nathrop gauge is only operated seasonally. And check here for a webcam.

For photos of the waves at specific flows, check out the River Surf Report.

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Directions:

Park near the boat ramp or near the bridge and the features will be obvious.