Each place checked against its official site in November 2026
Hot springs
Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center
The city's year-round pool, run on mineral spring water piped eight miles from the mountains. The main pool is 25 meters and about 84 to 86 degrees, a smaller pool runs about 95 to 100 degrees with zero-depth entry, and private soaking pools run about 105 degrees.
- Best for:
- A short soak in town without the drive to the Chalk Creek Valley
- When:
- Hours change with the season and the city runs an off-season schedule from fall through spring. Call 719-539-6738 for current hours.
- Where:
- 410 W Highway 50, Salida
Mount Princeton Hot Springs pools
Day guests are welcome year-round at the Historic Bath House, soaking and exercise pools, Creekside Hot Springs, Upper Pools and Infinity Pool. Everyone signs a waiver to enter. The Spa and Club is adults only (16 and over) and is not part of a day pass. The site lists 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Best for:
- A full day of soaking with a mountain view
- When:
- Open year-round. The water slide is seasonal.
- Where:
- 15870 County Road 162, Nathrop
Cottonwood Hot Springs soaking
A soaking pass covers the soaking tubs, a river plunge and a dry sauna, and the water is natural artesian hot spring water. Bathing suits are required, walk-ins are accepted and reservations are optional. Towels are not included but can be bought.
- Best for:
- Walk-in soaking near Buena Vista
- When:
- The site lists closing at 10 p.m. beginning November 1, while its FAQ lists soaking until midnight. Call 719-395-6434 to confirm hours.
- Where:
- 18999 County Road 306, Buena Vista
River and rafting
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Colorado's state park along a 152-mile stretch of the Arkansas River, with 102 miles of Gold Medal trout water and 318 campsites. Motorized boats are not allowed on the river here. The Buena Vista to Salida stretch through Browns Canyon is rated Class III to IV, and the stretch below Salida to Vallie Bridge is Class II to III. The park office is at the corner of G Street and Sackett Avenue and is open weekdays.
- Best for:
- Planning any river day: access, rapids ratings and flows
- When:
- Boating runs from spring runoff to late summer or early fall, and late May and early June bring the highest water, which can rise quickly. Colorado water is under 70 degrees most of the year and cold water shock can drown strong swimmers. Children under 12 must wear a life jacket on any paddleboard, boat or kayak. Parks and Wildlife advises against running Pine Creek above 1,250 cfs and Numbers above 2,400 cfs at the gauge it names. Check current flows and call 719-539-7289 before you go.
- Where:
- 307 West Sackett Avenue, Salida
Browns Canyon National Monument
A 21,586-acre monument in Chaffee County, established February 19, 2015. Granite cliffs rise along the river, which carries Class III to IV rapids through the canyon. Listed activities include camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing.
- Best for:
- Whitewater and canyon scenery without a road in sight
- When:
- Rafting here is a spring-to-early-fall activity. The BLM page lists no access or closure details, so check with the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office at 719-269-8500 before you go.
- Where:
- Along the Arkansas River between Buena Vista and Salida
Wilderness Aware Rafting
A Buena Vista outfitter running Browns Canyon trips through the national monument on Class III to IV rapids, with free river gear, photos and a deli-style lunch on full-day trips. The minimum age is 6 for Browns Canyon, 14 for Numbers and Royal Gorge, and 8 for multi-day trips. Guests sign a waiver online first.
- Best for:
- First-time rafters who want a guided Browns Canyon trip
- When:
- The site lists the season as May 1 to Labor Day. It says the 2026 season has ended and 2027 trips are booking now.
- Where:
- 12600 US Highway 24/285, Buena Vista
Buena Vista Whitewater Park
A whitewater park managed by the town of Buena Vista. Parks and Wildlife lists it as a river access site with camping and a disc golf course.
- Best for:
- Watching paddlers or putting in a kayak in town
- When:
- River water is cold most of the year and levels rise quickly in late May and early June. Check flows and wear a life jacket.
- Where:
- Arkansas River, Buena Vista
Ski and trails
Monarch Mountain
A ski area in the San Isabel and Gunnison National Forests with 1,146 skiable acres, a 1,225-foot vertical drop, nine lifts and about 350 inches of snow a year. The base is at 10,727 feet and the summit at 11,952 feet.
- Best for:
- Skiers who want a small, high-snow mountain
- When:
- The typical season runs from late November to early April. As of November 2, 2026 the site had not posted an opening day.
- Where:
- Monarch Pass, US Highway 50 west of Salida
Monarch Crest Trail
A one-way singletrack ride of about 35 miles from the top of Monarch Pass, with much of it above 11,000 feet. Singletracks rates it intermediate, though a reviewer says the descent needs advanced riding skills. A common plan is to leave a vehicle at the shuttle lot in Poncha Springs.
- Best for:
- Strong riders who want a high alpine point-to-point day
- When:
- A trail guide says the Crest is usually clear of snow from about July to August, with snow sometimes lingering into early July. It is not a ride for this time of year.
- Where:
- Monarch Pass, US Highway 50 west of Salida
Salida Mountain Trails
The local nonprofit that builds and maintains about 70 miles of trails in Chaffee County. Its site names the Arkansas Hills and Methodist Mountain trail systems, and it posts maps, trail conditions and e-bike information.
- Best for:
- Riders and hikers who want local trail conditions
- When:
- Check the group's trail conditions page before you ride.
- Where:
- Salida
In and around town
SteamPlant Event Center
The city-run cultural and event hub on the river in the Salida Creative District, with The Theater, indoor spaces and a brick courtyard. It hosts ticketed performances and public events listed on its calendar, and you can book a tour. The box office is open Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Best for:
- Catching a show or a tour in a restored industrial building
- Where:
- 220 W Sackett Avenue, Salida
Salida Museum
A local history museum founded in 1954 and in its current building since 1966. Exhibits cover Salida from about 1880, when it was founded as a railroad center, with an outdoor railroad exhibit, the Salida Smokestack, and photo galleries.
- Best for:
- A rainy hour on the town's railroad history
- When:
- The site is inconsistent on hours: one notice says Friday to Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., and another gives winter hours of Saturday and Sunday only. Call 719-539-7483 before you go.
- Where:
- 406 1/2 W Rainbow Boulevard, Salida
St. Elmo ghost town
A ghost town at 10,019 feet in the Chalk Creek Valley with a general store at 25865 County Road 162 selling new and vintage goods, cold drinks, ice cream and snacks. Hiking, ATV and jeep routes, fishing and camping are nearby.
- Best for:
- A history stop on the way up Chalk Creek
- When:
- The general store is open daily from May through September, sometimes into October, so it is probably closed for the season now. Call 719-395-2117 to check.
- Where:
- County Road 162, Nathrop
Cottonwood Pass
A mountain road over the Sawatch Range toward Gunnison, with a winter gate near the Denny Creek Trailhead on the Chaffee side. Past the gate the county does not maintain County Road 306, and motor vehicles are not allowed except snowmobiles and snowcats.
- Best for:
- A summer and early fall drive over the divide
- When:
- The pass closes for winter each fall. Chaffee and Gunnison counties closed it at 9 a.m. on November 3 in 2025, and the county aims to reopen it before Memorial Day, snowpack permitting. Treat it as closed now unless Chaffee County Road and Bridge (719-539-4591) says otherwise.
- Where:
- Chaffee County Road 306, west of Buena Vista
Festivals
First Friday in the Salida Creative District
Galleries and creative businesses stay open late on the first Friday of each month, from 5 to 7 p.m. The City of Salida Arts and Culture program organizes it, it is free, and more than twenty businesses join in with art, live music and light refreshments. A palette card collects stamps at participating stops.
- Best for:
- Gallery hopping with the town out on foot
- When:
- The most recent listing checked was for November 7, 2025. Confirm the next date with the City of Salida Arts and Culture program.
- Where:
- Downtown Salida
FIBArk Whitewater Festival
A whitewater festival in Salida that calls itself America's longest standing whitewater festival. Events include downriver races, slalom, a raft rodeo, SUP boxing, a surf competition, a bike event, a running event, a parade and live music.
- Best for:
- Visiting the river town at its busiest
- When:
- Held in June. The 2026 festival ran June 18 to 21. Dates for 2027 were not posted on the site on November 2, 2026.
- Where:
- Salida
Spotted something out of date? Tell us. Also see where to stay in Salida and what's on.