Attractions
The Arkansas River is home to the best whitewater rafting in Colorado. Its headwaters are high in the Rocky Mountains near Leadville, Colorado where the river drops 5,000 feet in the first 125 miles. This is where you will find world-class whitewater. The most popular whitewater rafting sections include the Numbers, Browns Canyon, Bighorn Sheep Canyon, and the Royal Gorge.
There are few better places to serve as a fourteener base camp than here. Situated in the Arkansas River Valley, it’s bordered by the massive Sawatch Range, home to more 14ers than any other range in the state. You can get to more than a dozen different major peaks within a one hour drive. In fact, there are more 14ers near Buena Vista than almost any other major mountain town.
Despite being at elevation, Chaffee County’s ‘banana belt’ valley sees unusually warm temperatures beautifully combined with abundance of snow fall in its higher elevations. Because of this combination of snow and sun, any imaginable outdoor activity is possible. This magical winter destination is a true Colorado secret, awaiting your adventures.
With unparalleled whitewater and endless mountain biking opportunities, people often look to this area for another amazing activity, fly fishing. The Arkansas River is a phenomenal haven for trout, with everything from smaller creek brook trout fishing near its headwaters by Leadville to great high quantity and quality brown trout fishing as you move down stream.
Buena Vista (7,954-ft.) is surrounded by the high peaks of the San Isabel National Forest. The area boasts the highest concentration of summits over 14,000-ft. in Colorado. Hikers with less lofty goals discover glorious scenery along trails ascending beautiful valleys to shimmering alpine lakes and high passes surrounded by towering peaks in the Collegiate Peaks and Mt. Massive Wilderness areas.
Join us on the Colorado Birding Trail to experience a wildlife adventure of your own! Explore our incredible diversity of wildlife and the habitats they depend on in unbelievably spectacular settings. From the dry grasslands of the short-grass prairie to the snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado has nearly 1,000 species of wildlife for you to seek.
Welcome to Mount Princeton Hot Spring Resort, where you can relax and rejuvenate in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Our hot springs are a perfect destination for anyone looking to unwind and enjoy the beauty of Colorado. Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort is located in Nathrop, Colorado between the towns of Buena Vista and Salida.
Up the road is St. Elmo. It is considered a ghost town, although still inhabited by a few hardy folks and some say a ghost if you look hard enough, and offers a glimpse of what the mining life was like in the late 1800s. There are lots of old buildings to see, a general store, and a number of hiking trails nearby. Also nearby is the Iron City Cemetery, which is interesting to explore for the history buff.
Come on up to experience horseback riding in Nathrop, Colorado. We have horses for all riders. All of our Colorado trail rides provide plenty of time to take pictures and enjoy the high country. We offer a variety of rides, so please click the button below to learn more and book online. Come experience the best horseback riding in Colorado!
Held every summer, the annual Salida Art Walk features works by local and regional artists as well as live music and theater, demonstrations and exclusive gallery previews. Salida’s creative culture isn’t contained by gallery walls. Art is virtually everywhere, from “ghost” signs gracing buildings from the early 1900s to the many public art installations that pepper Riverside Park.