Things To Do
FIBark
FIBark is Salida’s annual whitewater rafting festival. This is the 75th anniversary for the event! There are lots of fun things happening all weekend, including rafting and kayaking races on the Arkansas River, vendors, and live music in Riverside Park.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is in southern Colorado at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It’s known for huge dunes like the towering Star Dune, and for the seasonal Medano Creek and beach created at the base of the dunes. Trails lead to forests, wetlands and alpine lakes like Medano Lake, which is home to trout and tundra wildlife. Enjoy a variety of recreation opportunities such as sand sledding and hiking.
Zapata Falls
Zapata Falls is a waterfall located in the San Luis Valley near the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, adjacent to Rio Grande National Forest, and south of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The waterfall has a drop of about 30 feet. Please note: you must walk a short distance through Zapata Creek to view the falls. The creek is usually very cold, so insulated fishing booties are recommended if you wish to walk through the creek to view the falls.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park exposes you to some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. With two million years to work, the Gunnison River, along with the forces of weathering, has sculpted this vertical wilderness of rock, water, and sky. Visit the South Rim for access to the visitor center and iconic viewpoints such as The Painted Wall. The less-trafficked North Rim provides access to Exclamation Point (3 mile round-trip hike) and a variety of inner-canyon hikes (permit required).
Curecanti National Recreation Area
Located on the Western slope of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Curecanti includes three reservoirs in the Upper Gunnison River Basin (Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal). There are opportunities for hiking, boating, kayaking, camping, fishing, paddle-boarding, windsurfing, wildlife watching, and many other recreational activities.
Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
Royal Gorge Bridge and Park is a 360-acre amusement park located along the edge of the Royal Gorge around both ends of Royal Gorge Bridge. The gorge was carved by the Arkansas River; this section of the river provides an opportunity for some of the most intense white-water rafting in Colorado!
Cottonwood Pass
Cottonwood Pass is the highest paved mountain pass over the Continental Divide at an elevation of 12,126 feet. It is located along the border of Gunnison and Chaffee counties in Colorado, and is in the Sawatch Range.
Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn & Spa
Cottonwood Hot Springs is nestled in a high mountain natural ecosystem of the majestic Collegiate Peaks Range, bordered by Cottonwood Creek and surrounded by the San Isabel National Forest. It is located 5-1/2 miles west of the picturesque town of Buena Vista, Colorado.
Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa
Set in the San Luis Valley, this quirky spa retreat sits on the site of sulfur-free mineral hot springs and offers views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Mount Princeton Hot Springs
At Mt. Princeton, you can soak the hot springs while enjoying breathtaking views of the surrounding Collegiate Peaks. The pools range in temperature from 70 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.