SALIDA
HEART OF THE ROCKIES
Lodging + Activities
Salida, often called the “Heart of the Rockies,” is where outdoor adventure meets artistic flair. Surrounded by the Sawatch Mountains and the Collegiate Peaks, Salida is an art lover’s paradise with numerous galleries, studios, and cultural festivals. Embrace the spirit of the Arkansas River, where kayaking, fishing, and paddleboarding beckon. Stroll along historic streets of Colorado’s largest National historic district lined with boutique shops and savor farm-to-table cuisine at local restaurants. Fun Fact: Chaffee County is home to 12 14,000-foot peaks, the most of any county in the country.
Explore local lodging, camping options, & activities below!
LOCAL LODGING
The venue is within a few miles of several types of lodging, from stylish motels, to river front home rentals. Plus, if you missed out on official camping at Marvin Park, read below for local camping options!
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Blue Coyote Ranch is a locally-owned and operated 33-acre hospitality property in Salida, Colorado. Our property is unique in that it offers plenty of space to reconnect with family, friends and colleagues while also providing private areas to retreat and recharge.
Blue Coyote is the best of both worlds: natural seclusion, 2 miles from downtown Salida. The ranch has Luxury Cabin rentals that sleep up to 6 and a Lodge that can sleep 15.
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Located in the heart of Salida, Circle R Motel is in the mountains! This motel is 1.3 mi (2.2 km) from Riverside Park, our venue!
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Book your stay at the Hampton Inn, between HWY 50 and the Smalltown Campgrounds! Close enough to take the festival shuttle to and from the venue!
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With a fresh renovation and a sixty-year old story, Amigo Motor Lodge is a perfectly nostalgic yet undeniably modern accommodation. Whether you select an original room or one of our additional Airstream trailers, the entire experience has been thoughtfully considered and nods to the history of the property and the area itself.
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Use code Stay&Play50 to save $50 off a stay of two or more nights for any size chalet. A few creekside campsites are also available. Book at creeksidechalets.com.
Escape from the stresses of everyday life with a rejuvenating mountain vacation. Here you can revel in the beauty of the mountains, relax to the sounds of the river, and experience an unforgettable trip. Our cozy and charming cabins offer stunning views, wonderful amenities, and an unbeatable location.
We are just minutes from Monarch Mountain, which boasts 800 ski-able acres and an annual average snowfall of over 350 inches. Just a short drive east of our cabins is Salida, Colorado known as the ‘Gem of the Rockies’. This small but vibrant town offers a number of restaurants and shops as well as festivals and events throughout the year.
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Check out the top 20 RV Parks near Salida, CO
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ACTIVITIES
Salida is located in the heart of the Rockies. The Sawatch Range, the Arkansas River and Monarch Mountain surround this hamlet of a town. Charming, friendly, artistic and historic — there’s plenty to keep visitors busy throughout the year in this mountain community.
Salida Colorado is a real Colorado mountain town. Beautifully nestled between the Sangre de Cristo and Sawatch Mountain ranges, this central Colorado Historic downtown at 7,000 feet elevation boasts a liveliness driven by artistic minds and outdoor enthusiasts. Explore all the fall activities Salida has to offer below:
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Get ready to ride the river with Totally Tubular, proud to partner with Smalltown for the Cause! Located right on the Arkansas River, Totally Tubular offers everything you need for an unforgettable day on the water—tubes, surfboards, inflatable kayaks, rafts, and stand-up paddle boards.
Click For River RentalsPaddling, Surfing, Floating
Welcome to the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area! This is one of the nation’s most popular locations for whitewater rafting and kayaking. It’s also home to the most commercially rafted river in Colorado, the Arkansas River!
The Arkansas Headwater Recreation Area also offers a world class trout fishery and abundant opportunities for camping, picnicking, hiking, wildlife watching, horseback riding, mountain biking, OHV travel and sightseeing within the Upper Arkansas River Valley.
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Anupa IV hydration clinic just down the road from Riverside Park (West Sackett St next to the Boathouse).
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Sangre De Cristo Mountains
The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are the southernmost range of the Rocky Mountains. Named for the Blood of Christ, they offer tremendous reds for sunrise and sunset and especially when covered with snow and the alpenglow sets in. One of the longest ranges on earth, they run from Poncha Pass and into New Mexico.
The 220,000 acres of Sangre de Cristo Wilderness is the third largest in Colorado. It’s a very desolate area. The only roads that traverse this range are for four-wheel drive.
Unlike most Colorado mountains, the Sangres were uplifted suddenly in massive blocks. It created dramatic peaks with a lack of foothills, much like the Teton range in Utah. It is still being uplifted today as faults remain active.
Turquoise Lake
Nestled among the peaks of Leadville, is Turquoise Lake. It was named after the many turquoise mines nearby and is located at nearly 10,000 feet elevation. Originally a natural lake, it was dammed in the late 18th century to support the many mining operations.
Turquoise Lake is surrounded by eight campgrounds, offering about 300 spots. With two boat launches, it is very popular in the summers. Though it is only about five miles from Leadville, it offers amazing views where you can get away from it all and take in the scenery from this high altitude.
Collegiate Peaks
Chaffee County is famous for having the most fourteeners in its landscape. The Collegiate Peaks scenic byway offers a great way to view the mountains rising up to 14,000 feet. Starting in Granite, Highway 24 runs south past the peak of Mount Oxford as it heads toward Buena Vista. There are hiking summits to Mount La Plata, Mount Missouri, and other ones here. But you’ll also find several trails to enjoy four-wheeling, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking to satisfy a few of the other outdoor enthusiasts.
Mounts Harvard, Colombia and Yale are along the way when you head into Buena Vista. From here, you can take County Road 306 and explore a lot of them. There are many trails off of this road for hiking, biking, and snowshoeing. At Cottonwood Creek you can fish and boat at the base of these great peaks. Take a 4×4 up the trail further and enjoy dispersed camping. In winter, the closed pass is groomed by the local snowmobiling club.
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Salida and Buena Vista are well known for their biking, both road and mountain varieties. In both towns, rides are literally right out the door – there’s no need to load, unload, load and unload gear to get out for rides and back to home base.
And whatever the season – early spring, late fall or dead of winter – it’s biking time. Mild temperatures and trails on sandy slopes make for year-round riding in the Upper Arkansas Valley.
Methodist Mountain is a really cool area that has been used by locals for many years. If you do The Rainbow Trail from Bear Creek you will end up above the Methodist Trail system.
Methodist Mountain riding is classic high mountain desert through beautiful Pinon Trees. (Much of The Rainbow Trail is located on Methodist Mountain, but at a slightly higher elevation allowing for darker soil, Ponderosas, Aspens and snow in the off season).
Methodist Mountain’s “anchor trail” is the Little Rainbow. It’s mostly machine built so it is wide and wonderful. Ride or shuttle up to the CR110 trailhead. From here, ride over to Race Track and down, then back to town. If more time and legs, explore the Double Rainbow as an out and back before jumping on the Little Rainbow.
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In recognition of its numerous art studios and galleries, in 2012 downtown Salida was named one of Colorado’s first Creative Districts.
The arts in Salida took hold in the 1980s and 1990s when the valley’s mining and energy economy tanked, leading to high unemployment, business closures and vacant downtown storefronts. With cheap rents, low real estate prices and abundant outdoor recreation and natural beauty for inspiration, the arts in Salida gained a foothold. In 1998, traveland arts writer John Villani designated Salida one of the 100 best small art towns in America … and Salida’s affair with the arts was on its way.
Dozens of studios and galleries today feature artists and their work, from traditional landscapes to wild-side eclectic creations. Step into the shops and you’re likely to be talking to the artist whose studio is in the back of the building.
Visitors will find retailing variety, including necessities like groceries and banks along with clothing stores, antique and secondhand businesses and stores offering outdoor sports gear, gifts and real estate, with most all locally-owned.
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Gold Metal Waters.
Fishing in the Upper Arkansas Valley is a superb blend of river and big country. With 102 miles of Gold Medal water, the longest contiguous stretch in Colorado, the Arkansas flows through a diverse landscape. Mild winter days in the 40s and 50s make angling on the Arkansas River a year-round experience. Whether it’s late fall or mid-winter, anglers head to the Arkansas knowing that the sun will warm the water and trout will actively begin feeding.
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Salida is a bustling small town with lots to do all year long! Check out these activities while you’re in town for the festival and support the local businesses!
Crafting/Sewing & Leather Work @ A Church (Downtown)
Friday, September 19th: 9:00 am - 1:00 pmBring your own craft supplies and connect with local crafters to make something fun.
Car Show Benefiting Chaffee County Search & Rescue(Hwy 50 near the Campground)
Saturday September 20th: 9:00 am - 3:00 pmCheck out some cool cars and raise funds for the volunteers who rescue people hurt and lost in the backcountry.
GARNA Hiking Club (Location TBD)
Friday September 19th: 8:00 am - 1:00 pmJoin locals for a guided hike!
Farmers Market: (Downtown, Alpine Park)
Saturday, September 20th: 8:00 am - 12:00 pmPick up farm fresh local produce for your dinner at the Campground and support producers from across the Arkansas Valley.
Sunday Open Skate: (Poncha Springs, Chaffee County Fairgrounds)
Sunday, September 21: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pmFree & Open to the public. All roller skating skill levels invited.
Tin Cup Pass Fall Colors Drive: (St. Elmo)
Saturday, September 20th: 10:00 amModerate 4x4 road group drive
THANK YOU TO OUR
SPONSORS
