Area Activities and Attractions

The Banana Belt and year round recreation

Spend your Colorado mountain vacation surrounded by breathtaking beauty and some of Colorado’s tallest peaks. Salida and Buena Vista have preserved their western heritage and remain quiet, quaint, and charming mountain towns.

The Sawatch Mountains to the Northwest, Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the South, and the Mosquito Range to the North provide a mild climate for Salida known as the Banana Belt, creating ideal conditions for year-round outdoor recreation.

Rocky Mountain high… The elevation of the area ranges from just under 7,000 to over 14,000 feet. Fifteen of Colorado's 54 highest peaks - the 'Fourteeners' - (taller than 14,000 feet) are located in Chaffee County, Colorado. On a clear day, panoramic views from the summits of the ‘Fourteeners’ stretch to Colorado's bordering states. ‘Fourteeners’ in the aptly named Collegiate Peaks are: Mt. Harvard, Mt. Oxford, Mt. Princeton, Mt. Yale, and Mt. Columbia.

Each season, every day, the wide variety of recreational opportunities surrounding Salida and Chaffee County beckons visitors and residents alike.  So, get up here, get outside, and get going!

Enjoy these exciting outdoor activities:

Biking Camping Cross Country Skiing Downhill skiing Fly Fishing Golf Hiking/Backpacking Horseback Riding Hot Springs

Jeep Tours Kayaking Rafting Sledding/Tubing Sleigh/Hay Rides Snowshoeing Snowmobiling Ziplining

The Arkansas River is favored by river enthusiasts! Chaffee County embraces its relationship with the Arkansas River. As the river tumbles to and through Buena Vista and Salida there are 140 miles of trout stream, more than half of which is open to public access. With its growing reputation, the Arkansas River lures anglers. The Arkansas is also a great place for beginners to get hooked on fly-fishing. Local fly shops and fishing outfitters provide full-service guided trips and other services related to fishing throughout the region.

Other draws to the Arkansas River are the world-class rafting and kayaking. Have your breath taken away with a whitewater rafting trip down the Arkansas! Or paddle downstream in a kayak and learn how to ‘play’ in the kayak ‘play holes’. Fibark is a not to be missed, one-of-a-kind kayaking event held every June in Salida. Participate in Fibark yourself or sit back and enjoy watching the event participants.

Hot Springs: Ahhh … Relax after a day of skiing or any outdoor activity. Rejuvenate yourself in soothing, naturally mineral-rich waters at one of the many hot springs in the area. Historic Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center is a family-friendly public indoor facility. Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort and Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn and Spa have creek side facilities. Or visit Joyful Journey outdoors in the San Luis Valley, with views of the sand dunes.