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The Odometer: Roughly 142 miles, one way from Denver (2 hours, 40 minutes)
There’s never a bad time to visit Salida, but we are partial to summer and fall. The railroad town is nestled in the Upper Arkansas River Valley, with easy access to the mighty river and more than a dozen nearby fourteeners. As you’d expect, the tiny town (population 6,000) caters to an outdoor-obsessed crowd.
No matter how you prefer to play among the peaks, there’s no better basecamp. Why? The town is located in a “banana belt”—an area that enjoys warmer weather than the surrounding region—which extends the boating, fishing, biking, and hiking season to nearly year-round. And when you’re ready to rest and refuel after all that high-altitude adventuring, Salida is stocked with places to shop, eat, and unwind.
Jump Ahead:
What to Do in Salida
About 216 miles of mountain biking trails snake through Salida, so both newbies and experts have plenty of singletrack to send it on. Intermediate and advanced riders shouldn’t skip the famed Monarch Crest Trail, a more than 30-mile ride along the ridge of the Rockies.
Salida Mountain Sports carries a guidebook galore—plus all the hiking essentials you’ll need—to help you conquer one of the fourteeners in the nearby Sawatch Range. Mt. Shavano (class 2) is the closest climb to town, and if you haul it all the way up to the 14,228-foot summit, you might as well make it a twofer and tag on adjacent Tabeguache Peak (class 2), which soars to 14,157.
Of course, you’d be remiss to skip Salida’s centerpiece: the Arkansas River. Spend a splashy afternoon tubing, paddleboarding, or even river surfing at the Salida Whitewater Park. For a full day of riding rapids, book a guided whitewater rafting trip through Browns Canyon with Salida River Adventures. If you’re proficient with a paddle, tackle Class V whitewaters on Pine Creek. Gear up with fresh flies (and beta on where the trout are biting) at ArkAnglers’ fly shop, or hire one of their fly-fishing guides to hook the real beauties.
Looking for a lower-key experience? Wander down F Street, the heartbeat of this hamlet, where you’ll find vintage clothing (Julie’s Cubbie), toys (Kaleidoscope Toys), home goods (Su Casa), gift shops (Juniper), and more. Swing by the SteamPlant Event Center—which houses a gallery and sculpture garden—to connect with locals during community yoga, author talks, and film screenings.
Where to Stay in Salida
The Manhattan Hotel has all the charm of a historic spot with every modern convenience you might crave, including self-check-in á la Airbnb. Conveniently situated in the middle of downtown (right above the riverside Boathouse Cantina), each room features a private balcony with bistro seating to soak up the nightlife and mountain views. For larger groups, the Blue Coyote Ranch sleeps 15 in its lodge, and each of the four cabins sleeps an additional six people.
Nothing says “Salida” more than a stay at the Mountain Goat Lodge. As the name suggests, you’ll share these 20 rolling acres with a small herd of dairy goats who provide the very milk, cheese, and yogurt served for breakfast. You can even take a cheese-making class (featuring farm-fresh feta, chevre, cream cheese, mozzarella, ricotta, haloumi, and paneer).
Where to Eat in Salida
Ordering a pie at Amicas is a classic pick for dinner in Salida—and that’s the problem. The tiny eatery is often so packed that the wait time scares us away. The solution? Order a Salsiccia (pepperoni, sausage, tomatoes, and mozzarella) to go and head for a picnic in nearby Riverside Park where you can watch the kayakers.
To quickly sate morning munchies, locals head to the two-decade-strong Brown Dog Coffee Co. and order a chorizo breakfast burrito loaded with eggs, ground chorizo sausage, pork green chiles, onions, hashbrowns, and chile seasonings. For a more leisurely brunch, post up on the rooftop of the Biker and the Baker. The Controlled Slide Avalanche breakfast burrito (eggs, goat cheese, caramelized onions, spinach, avocado, hashbrowns, and green chile) is a fan favorite.
Lunch cravings disappear with a few bites of a hot Don Draper Sammie (pastrami, horseradish havarti, roasted green bell peppers, caramelized onions, arugula, and spinach) from Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop. If you fancy drinking a cold one on the Boathouse Cantina’s deck, we recommend pairing it with a Cantina Club (chipotle chicken breast, bacon, provolone, avocado, creamy green chile mayo) or the Boathouse Rellenos (egg roll wrapper, cheese blend, roasted green chiles, topped with green or red chili, pico de gallo, sour cream, and fresh guacamole).
Soulcraft Brewing is a can’t-miss for craft beer lovers. Wet your whistle with the Green Chile Ale—a blonde brewed with Pueblo chiles—and stake your claim at a table on the sprawling patio. When the sun starts to set, hightail it to High Side Bar & Grill, where you can watch the river rats boogie to live music on the patio (and join in after a daiquiri or two).
