The Arkansas River flows right through Salida and this is some of the funnest rafting in Colorado! There are multiple route options ranging in difficulty. The river tends to be much calmer in the later summer months so most routes should be pretty calm around our wedding. This is a great way to take advantage of the scenery in a fun group setting!
This area of Colorado is riddled with some of the best fishing in the state! There are multiple fly fishing companies in the area that offer guided fishing trips. If you are new to fly fishing, we would recommend contacting The Next Eddy or ArkAnglers in Salida to schedule a guided fishing trip. If you are an experienced fly fisher, we have a few anglers in the wedding that would be happy to provide recommendations in the area. Who knows, maybe you'll all find a honey hole together!
There is an abundance of hiking options in this part of Colorado. This is a great free option to take in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. There are tons of options with ranging levels of difficulty. The area is surrounded by the Collegiate Peaks and Huron Peak, all of which are 14ers if you're looking for a challenging feat! We would highly recommend downloading the All Trails app to help you find the right hike for you. If you decide to go on a hike please make sure to go in groups, bring PLENTY of water and bring snacks to stay fueled during your hike. If you are not used to the altitude, it is imperative to stay hydrated!
There are multiple natural hot springs in the area! If you've never been to a hot spring before, we highly recommend this. There's nothing more relaxing than soaking in a natural hot spring while being immersed in the mountains. The best hot springs in the area is Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort in nearby Nathrop. They offer hot springs pools long with creekside hot springs which is our personal preference. ~30 minute drive from Salida. Cottonwood Hot Springs is another great option in nearby Buena Vista. They offer multiple hot spring pools and you can hit the town of Buena Vista while you're in the area! ~40 minute drive from Salida. Charlotte Hot Springs is another great option in Buena Vista. They only have a few hot spring pools that are oversized hot tub size and you can hit the town of Buena Vista while you're in the area! ~40 minute drive from Salida. Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center is a great indoor, family-friendly option, in close proximity to downtown Salida!
Another fun outdoor activity! We don't know too much about this activity but there seems to be a lot of options for biking trails in the area on Cottonwood Pass and Monarch Pass. Absolute Bikes and Subculture are two bike shops in Salida that offer rentals. Absolute Bikes offers a shuttle to Cottonwood and Monarch for a convenient option.
There is a ziplining park right outside of Salida called Captain Zipline. They offer ziplining along with an aerial adventure park. This is a good option for thrill seekers!
Be a stereotypical Coloradan and go sip some craft brews while playing board games at a local brewery! Salida Brewing Co, Tres Litros, Soulcraft Brewing and Salida Distillery are all in Salida. Elevation Brewing and Vino Salida Cellars are just a quick 5 minute drive west in Poncha Springs. Eddyline Brewery and Deerhammer Distillery are about a 35 minute drive away in Buena Vista.
There's a surprising amount of dining options in downtown Salida! Just whip your phone out and search for what you're in the mood for!
Downtown Salida has a cute main street with shops! Our favorite shop in Salida is Ruby Blues, a thrift/consignment shop where we've found some of our favorite wardrobe pieces!