Salida, Colorado
Home of Colorado's Largest Historical District, the annual FibArk Whitewater Festival, Artwalk, Fallen Bikers Memorial Rally, the Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center, and a great whitewater kayaking course.
Salida is
nestled at the foot of the scenic Central Colorado Rockies on the western
bank of the Arkansas River at an elevation of 7,038 feet. U.S. Highways
24, 50 and 285 meet near this historic railroad town making it the "Crossroads
of the Rockies". Nearest commercial airports are Denver International,
Colorado Springs, and Pueblo.
Downtown
Salida is on the National Register of Historic Places and is Colorado's
largest historic district. Because of the cool, comfortable summers and
relatively mild winters, the area around Salida is called the "banana
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Historic Downtown District
Salida was first established in the 1800s as a stagecoach stop and later as a stop over for travelers on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Downtown Salida is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has the finest collection of historically significant buildings in the state and is Colorado's largest historic district. A walking tour of the downtown district will bring this history to life.
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Art Galleries
Salida named "Best Arts Community" in the West by Sunset Magazine. Visitors to Salida's historic downtown district will find a wide array of galleries exhibiting the stimulating works of local artists, sculptors, jewelers, potters, and goldsmiths. Many of these galleries are working studios and are housed in historically significant buildings. Gallery hopping is a great way to spend an afternoon in historic downtown Salida.
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Salida Walking Tours
Salida Walking Tours guides visitors through Colorado's largest National Historic District. You'll hear incredible stories about Salida's wild west past, including gunfights, lynchings, great successes, and tragic fires. Private tours and nightly darkside tours also available.
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FIBArk Festival
Salida is the home of the legendary FIBArk (First In Boating The Arkansas) Festival. This four-day festival held each year in mid-June is the venue for the oldest down river race in America. FIBArk draws whitewater raft, canoe, and kayak racers from around the world. This event includes North America's longest kayak race (26 miles) and a whitewater rodeo event where the only qualification is that the craft you race cant be a boat. The festival includes a full range of activities for spectators including live entertainment.
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Monarch Crest Tram
The tram is located 20 minutes west of Salida on U.S. Hwy 50. An enclosed tram car ascends to a height of 12,000 feet for a view of the Rocky Mountains, Continental Divide, and Pikes Peak, 72 miles to the east. (719) 539-4091
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Mount Shavano State Fish Hatchery
The Mount Shavano State Fish Hatchery is located 2 miles north on State Hwy 291, then 1 mile west on CR 154. The hatchery covers 25 acres and produces more than 4 million fish each year, including brook, brown, cutthroat and rainbow trout.
Open daily 8-4; (719) 539-6877
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Salida Museum
The Salida Museum is located on U.S. Hwy 50 at I Street. It adjoins the Salida Chamber of Commerce building. The museum displays pertain to pioneer and American Indian life, railroading and mining. Open daily 10-4, Memorial Day-Labor day. 1-(877) 772-5432
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Salida Hot Aquatic Center
The Salida Hot Springs Swimming Pool and Bath located at 410 West U.S. Hwy 50 is the state's largest indoor hot springs pool. Featured are a soaking pool, kids pool, water aerobics classes, hot baths, and massages. (719) 539-6738
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Angel of Shavano
In spring the melting snow on the flank of 14,229-foot Mounts Shavano, about 14 miles northwest of town assumes a shape called the "Angel of Shavano". It is said that the angel appeared when the Ute chief Shavano prayed for his dying friend George Beckwith. Tenderfoot Mountain, at the east edge of town off CR 291, offers a good view of the angel as well as the valley and nearby mountains.
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San Isabel National Forests
Salida is minutes from the San Isabel National Forest. The forest includes scenic and recreational features within its 1,109,782 acres. The recreation opportunities in the forest are countless. Visitors can visit ghost towns or backpack on more than 700 miles of trails. Camping, Fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and snowshoeing are only a few of the activities available. Horseback, snowmobile, mountain biking, jeep, and other tours are available from local vendors and outfitters.
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Arkansas Headwaters State Recreation Area
The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Areas is one of the nation's most unusual recreation areas, stretching for 148 miles along one of the West's premier recreation rivers, the Arkansas. From its northern boundary below the fabled mining town of Leadville to the Pueblo Reservoir, the area is a recreation paradise. Opportunities abound for fishing, rafting, kayaking, picnicking, wildlife watching, hiking, camping, mountain climbing and sightseeing among deep canyons, broad valleys, and towering mountains. Local outfitters offer a wide variety of rafting, kayaking, and float fishing trips on the Arkansas River.
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Salida is one of the main gateways to recreation in the 1,109,782 acre San
Isabel National Forest and is
the headquarters of the Arkansas Headwaters State Recreation Area which
has 148-miles of the best river rafting and kayaking water in the nation.
Salida's location makes it an ideal base camp for your Colorado vacation.
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The Heart of the Rockies Chamber
of Commerce serves the town of Salida and surrounding area. They are an
excellent source for information regarding the community and will provide
assistance in planning your visit to the area. You can reach them toll free at 877-772-5432, M - F 9AM to 5PM, MST. |
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