River Surfing in Colorado Just Got Better With a New Wave in Pueblo

River surfing in Colorado is seeing fresh life breathed into it as we roll into summer 2025. 

Pueblo, Colorado, has been part of the river surfing scene for nearly 20 years. In my work with Recreation Engineering and Planning (REP), I helped design and build a whitewater park on the Arkansas River near downtown Pueblo back in 2004–2005. It was the first place I saw someone river surfing, and it’s where Zack and I had our first session together. In many ways, Pueblo played as big a role in the creation of Badfish as our hometown of Salida, Colorado. 

A SUP surf session in the original Pueblo Whitewater Park circa 2013.

Located on the Front Range south of Colorado Springs, Pueblo has a unique relationship with the Arkansas River. After a catastrophic flood in 1921, the river was placed behind a massive concrete levee. Then, in the 1970s, Pueblo Reservoir was built as part of a major water project importing Western Slope water into the Arkansas to serve downstream agricultural and municipal users.

Waterworks Park, Pueblo: The Newest Addition to the Colorado River Surfing Scene

The new river wave in Pueblo is located a few miles downstream of Pueblo Reservoir at the site of a large diversion structure owned by the Pueblo Board of Water Works. This new whitewater park—Waterworks Park—was built to improve boat navigation past the diversion structure and create a recreational amenity for the community. 

The project includes a bypass channel with five drop structures. A portion of the original diversion dam remains in place and now features a boat chute (more on that later). The surf wave is formed at the sixth drop, where the chute and bypass channel rejoin.

The wave shares some DNA with Salida’s Scout Wave. It was also designed by REP and led by Spencer Lacy, who collaborated with me on the Scout Wave, but it’s not a copy. Lessons learned from Salida were incorporated here. The result is a fun, fast, modern wave set in a beautiful park.

We haven’t seen the wave across a full range of flows yet, since this post was written before peak runoff. But it’s already showing a lot of promise.

Like the Scout Wave in Salida, Colorado, this is a static wave—there are no adjustable features. It’s 34 feet wide, offering plenty of room to work with. When we visited, the flow was about 650 cfs. Locals say it starts coming in around 400 cfs. 

You can check current flows here. 

Keep in mind that flows in Pueblo behave differently than upstream in places like Salida or Buena Vista. Water levels here are based on downstream demands, particularly from large agricultural users in the Lower Arkansas Valley. Releases from the reservoir can happen quickly. Check before you go and expect potential fluctuations during your session.

How To Get to Waterworks Park in Pueblo, Colorado

Right now, access to the wave is from the south side of the river via City Park. It can be a little tricky. 

After entering City Park, take a hard, immediate left onto a frontage-style road, then slowly wind through the neighborhood until you find a dirt lot overlooking the river. A concrete path leads down to the wave. You can find a map here.

The city plans to build a parking lot on the north side of the river, which will be a big improvement. For now, plan to bring a backpack for your gear—it's a bit of a hike from the lot. 

Bonus tip for parents: City Park is home to a charming little zoo. When we pulled in, my 23-year-old son Miles shouted, “The Zoo!” Proof that it still leaves an impression.

What To Expect From Colorado’s New River Surfing Wave

At 650 cfs, the wave was a blast. It has a steeper shoulder on surfers’ right (river left) and a flatter one on surfers’ left (river right). One of the great things about river surfing is that every wave has its own personality. Even if you duplicated a structure exactly, variations in upstream current and downstream hydraulics would create subtle differences.

The new Waterworks wave in Pueblo, Colorado is no exception. It’s got a fun little rooster tail to turn off of and a foamy shoulder that’s easy to drop into. Miles was throwing spins with ease in the foam.

We brought nearly every river surfboard we had. Larger surfers like me (195 lbs) preferred boards with flatter rocker, like the Bomb Drop. Smaller riders like our shop manager, Laura Patterson, loved the Wave Farmer and boards with more tail rocker. Overall, the boards we like at the Scout Wave worked great here, too. 

We also tested several of our new 2025 shapes—coming later this month (stay tuned!). In general, boards 5’6” and under are the sweet spot for this Colorado river surfing wave.

Dropping In

Dropping into Pueblo’s new river wave is similar to Scout. You can sit on the concrete wall to launch or do a standing bomb drop. Miles also skimmed in from behind the wave on river right, giving him the speed for a big backside turn—but that’s not recommended for beginners. Gaining too much momentum could carry you into the opposite wall.

Other River Features and the Boat Chute

We didn’t spend much time in the other features, but as flows increase, expect more traditional whitewater park waves to come in, opening options for higher-volume boards.

Now, about the boat chute…

Anna, Badfish’s photographer and social media manager, brought her ducky, so we all took turns running the chute. It’s like a 270-foot water slide that ends in the pool above the wave. When you drop in, you accelerate like you’re at Water World, and then skim 70–80 feet across the water at the bottom. It’s a blast! 

Next time, I’m bringing a Donut River Tube—and maybe even a whitewater kayak—for a few laps. It’ll be a huge hit with local kids, but please: wear a PFD and a helmet. It’s still a natural river environment, and safety is key.

Pueblo, Colorado Solidifies Itself as a River Surfing Hub

The new wave at Waterworks Park is an exciting addition to Colorado’s river surfing scene. It’s fast, green, modern, and sure to become a favorite. If you’re headed that way, be sure to stop in at The Edge in Pueblo, a great local retailer and longtime supporter of the river surfing scene. Owner Bob Walker is a great resource for real-time conditions and gear. 

As always, hit us up if you have questions about this wave or anything else in the world of river surfing!

*There is a grand opening event at the park on May 24th. If you can make it, it's a great opportunity to show the City of Pueblo and the Board of Water that this park was well worth their investment.