Welcome to the Heart Of The Rockies.
Here is what to do in Salida, Colorado!
Salida offers activities for every age group, including your family pets. Whether you are looking for constant entertainment and physical challenges or just a laid back good time surrounded by mountains and rivers, Salida has you covered. After a hard day of playing, go for a relaxing soak in one of the several natural hot springs in Salida and the surrounding area. The Salida Hot Springs Pool is the largest indoor hot springs facility in the country.
Raft Over 100 Miles Of The Arkansas River
Deep in the heart of land-locked Colorado sits the watersports town of Salida and a river known for its world-class rafting. The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area is 148 miles of river park, providing a challenging playground for rafters, kayakers, and standup paddleboarders.
Browns Canyon National Monument Colorado’s Newest National Monument
Chaffee County has become a unique mark on the Colorado map with the official designation of Browns Canyon National Monument. By preserving and protecting the regions wild character, variety of wildlife and diverse ecosystem, Browns Canyon National Monument will be protected for generations to come. Nestled along the Arkansas River in the center of Colorado, just outside Salida, Browns Canyon National Monument offers solitude and primitive recreation, including rafting, kayaking, hunting, horseback riding, backpacking, fishing, and hiking.
Fish Colorado’s Longest Stretch Of Gold Medal Waters
The stretch of Arkansas River in and around Salida has up to 5000 trout per mile! And, there is more than 70 miles of public access along the river, as well as plenty of sites to launch boats and float fish. Also, the area has almost year round insect action, a plus for those who love fly fishing. Local fly shops and fishing outfitters are more than happy to update visitors on current conditions, directions to public access and provide full-service guided trips. The upper Arkansas River was designated Gold Medal status because of improved water quality, flow management and fish abundance.
Cool Beach Scene & Dining in the Heart Of Salida, Colorado
Don’t forget your sunscreen! Hang all day or lounge all evening and bring the family. Salida’s downtown beach area sits along the riverwalk path. The beach is a great location to read a good book or paddle around with your children, and is surrounded by great casual dining and Salida’s event center, home of live music, theater, and film festivals.
Colorado’s First Creative District
Downtown Salida is a certified designated Creative District! Historic downtown is filled with artisans of every genre, including advertising and architecture, blacksmithing and metal, ceramics/pottery, digital media, fiber arts, videography, fine art, graphic design, murals, music, performing arts, photography, sculpture, and writing. And, don’t forget the wineries, breweries and distilleries. If you like it…you can find it in Salida!
Salida Walking Tours
Looking for things to do in Salida & Buena Vista? How about chasing ghosts? Or traveling back in time to the 1880s wild west Colorado?
These fun, knowledgeable guides are master storytellers. They create treasured memories and bring the past to life.
Enjoy Salida through storytelling, scenery, & historic buildings this our one-of-a-kind small group experience. An enthusiastic, personable guide will help you discover Salida through a local’s eyes. Stroll & take in the charming streets of downtown as you learn about our past, present & future. Click HERE to see their website for more information!
Bring your daring side! Salida’s ziplines and aerial adventure parks whisk riders over the high desert and mountain terrain, where they enjoy wildlife sightings, mountain and river views, dramatic cliffs and the beauty of Colorado’s dramatic landscape — from high above it. You’ll fly, climb, swing and scale new heights above Colorado aspens and ponderosa pines on stainless steel cables and swings, tightwires, cargo nets, catwalks and more.
Mountain Biking in The Heart of It All
Often known for its high country rides, Salida has some great riding in the Arkansas Hills and Methodist Mountain trail systems. Salida boasts a wealth of trails for mountain bikers. Sitting as the crown jewel in a ring of 14,000-foot peaks, the town is an ideal hub for those seeking challenging terrain and variety. Salida is a bike town through and through. To compliment the cruisers, bike lanes and sharrows, Salida also has some seriously sweet singletrack.
Cool Festivals in Salida, Colorado
Salida abounds in cool festivals year round from a New Year’s Day 5K run through a New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade & Fireworks at Monarch Mountain. Festivities include golfing, America’s oldest whitewater festival, a beer brewers’ rendezvous, fine arts festivals, fair & rodeo, Colorado winefest, bike festivals, fiber festival, and music festivals.
Hike Over 15 14,000 foot peaks
Find over 175 of the best hiking routes in Salida! Whether on your own, guided or with outfitters, Salida offers trails for everyone from the novice to the expert. Expect great views of the flora and fauna along the way.
Colorado’s Largest National Historic District
Salida is hugged by the cool Arkansas River and was first established in the 1800s as a stagecoach stop and later as a stop-over for travelers on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Downtown Salida is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has the finest collection of historically significant buildings in the state and is Colorado’s largest historic district. A walk around the downtown district will bring this history to life. Salida is known as the “crossroads” or as its citizens prefer, the Heart of the Rockies!
Downtown Salida is home to Colorado’s largest National Historic District with 136 preserved buildings a wild west past. Explore the town like a local with Salida Walking Tours. Your personable guide, dressed in Victorian-era attire, will lead you on an intimate, small-group exploration of this fascinating town. Be captivated by tales of Salida’s exciting, and sometimes violent, history. Visitors and residents alike come away with hidden secrets of this unique town.
Check out these amazing Scenic Drives
Chaffee County is surrounded by beauty. Choose any of these 4 routes to see for yourself!
You may even see a ghost in one of our actively haunted buildings!
Come back & Play Soon Salida, Colorado!
