Parkdale Recreation Site serves as the primary access point before the Arkansas River enters the Royal Gorge, featuring a boat ramp/slide, changing facilities, picnic tables, restrooms, and fishing access.

The site includes group lunch stop sheltered areas and improved parking and trail facilities.

Caution: The Royal Gorge section below Parkdale is Class IV-V whitewater and should not be run at flows exceeding 3,200 cfs at the Parkdale gauge; boaters must be prepared to run the entire section as walking out is not an option due to an active railroad on the left bank.