Salida

Historic Salida: the Heart of the Rockies!

From its beginnings as a railroad town, serving the mines in Leadville and Monarch, and the “high-altitude cattle” of area ranches, the city of Salida has beome central Colorado’s prime destination for everyone interested in outdoor recreation and the arts.

During the summer months, the Arkansas River, the 14,000-foot peaks of the Sawatch Range to the west, the dry Arkansas Hills to the east, and the state and national parks surrounding the city in every direction, attract thousands of people bent on adventure.

Whitewater rafting, fishing, camping, four-wheeling, mountain and road bicycling, climbing, hiking, horseback riding and soaking in natural hot springs waters lure them to Salida in the summer and fall.

In winter, skiing at nearby Monarch Ski and Snowboard Area, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and so on, take people into the mountains; while in town, the rare snowfalls typically melt off quickly, giving Salida the nickname, “Banana Belt”.

Hunters, anglers, and fall foliage fans visit each autumn, and all year ’round Salida’s galleries, restaurants, bars, and the downtown historical district — the largest in Colorado — provide adventures of a quieter sort.

At a trifle over 7,000 feet of elevation, Salida rarely taxes the visitors’ physiology, and those who enjoy friendly natives and copacetic eating and drinking establishments are nurtured emotionally.

Events add to the enjoyment level several times a year: The famous 26-mile downriver race called FIBArk (First In Boating on the Arkansas) has brought athletes and spectators to Salida from around the world in mid-June, for the past 50-odd years; ArtWalk follows in late June, a fantastic party for art lovers, gallery owners, and artists; July brings the annual Colorado Brewers’ Rendezvous sponsored by the Colorado Brewers Guild.

Then there are the bicycle races, triathlons, bike and vintage automobile tours, rallies, hill climbs and more. Several websites provide details of these and the many other events not mentioned here. All in a mountain town with a population of 5,000, give or take. And the reality is even better than the buzz!

• www.trainweb.org
• Arkansas Headwaters National Recreation Area on cozine.com
• US National Parks area info
• fishing
• mountain biking
• hot springs
• skiing
• Salida Chamber
• FiBARK
• running
• ArtWalk
• beer
• Ride the Rockies (cycling)
• The Colorado Grand (auto touring)
• Colorado Hill Climbing Association

Whitewater rafting

AHRA 
Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center 
Canyon Marine 
Independent Whitewater

Fishing

Ark Anglers

Biking

Absolute Bikes 
Sub Culture
Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center

Kayak/standup paddling

Colorado Kayak Supply
Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center 

Golfing

Salida Golf Club 

Hot Springs

Salida Hot Springs Pool

Snow Ski/board

Monarch
Four Seasons RV Resort
Mt Shavano Ski Shop & Rental 
Mountain Sports Haus
Salida Mountain Sport Headquarters
Anything Outdoors Consignment
Headwaters Outdoor Equipment

Climbing

Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center 
Salida Mountain Sport Headquarters

Hiking/backpacking/trailruning

Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center 
Salida Mountain Sport Headquarters

lodging

americas best value inn
days inn
comfort inn
woodland motel
poncha lodge
simple lodge+hostle
circle R motel
silver ridge lodge
Holliday inn express
super 8 motel
great western

Bed & Breakfast

Tudor Rose
san isabell
century house

campgrounds

heart of the rockies
rocky mtn camp.
Four Seasons RV Resort
Riverside cmp.