Saying hello to Salida
Salida might mean departure in Spanish but it's the arrivals that you'll be writing home about in this small Colorado town. With the chiseled faces of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains peaking on the horizon, and the hulking shoulders of the Sawatch Range crashing to the clouds in the west, there's drama from the get-go. The babbling Arkansas River only adds to the postcard looks of the place, while the presence of countless whitewater outfitters, hiking guides, ski shops, and canoe rental places is a constant reminder that Salida vacation rentals are for much more than just glimpsing the Rockies.
Sightseeing in and around Salida
Are you looking for things to do during your stay? Travelers enjoy fun activities like rafting, hiking and biking. Venture out of your vacation home and experience everything that Salida has to offer. These are some of the major attractions to put on your list, all within 30 miles (48.2 km) of the city center:
- Monarch Ski Area (18.4 mi / 29.6 km)
- Cottonwood Hot Springs (22.7 mi / 36.5 km)
- Salida Golf Club (0.4 mi / 0.7 km)
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Visitor Center (0.4 mi / 0.7 km)
- Rocky Mountain Mini Golf (0.9 mi / 1.5 km)
- Lodgeview (18.3 mi / 29.4 km)
Discover your inner Bear Grylls in Salida
Channel those Bear Grylls vibes. Hit the mountain trails. Look to the swaying pine forests. Prepare to ride the deafening whitewater rapids of the Arkansas River. That's what you'll need to do if you want to squeeze every last drop out of this veritable adventure hub of south-central Colorado. There's so much to be getting on with, whether that means extreme canoeing lessons with Olympic athletes, hiking expeditions to the summit of Mount Antero, ski days on the nearby Rocky pistes – the list goes on.
From sun to snow in Salida
Salida vacation rentals in the mountains or on the edge of the River Arkansas are always at their most coveted during the warmer months of the year. That's because the summer and fall season, between May and September, is the top time to hit the Colorado Rockies for hiking and whitewater rafting, not to mention when the hearty western grills and bars in the town are at their most lively. That said, there's both skiing and après-ski during the winter months, with the pistes of Monarch Ski Area typically opening between November and early April each year.
Salida sits between the Rockies
There's nothing but pure drama around Salida. The town sits on the edge of the Arkansas River, with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the ranges of the Sawatch intersecting on the westward horizon. Protected reserves and national parks are everywhere. You could hit the Pike and San Isabel National Forests for great swathes of spear-like pine trees and huge fourteener peaks. Or, you could go deep into the Rocky Mountains to the west, where snow-dusted Pahlone Peak cascades down to the Gunnison National Forest and its vast sprawl of aspen woods and highland tundra – that's black bear country extraordinaire.
Transportation to and around Salida
The nearest airport is in Gunnison, CO (GUC-Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional), located 50.9 mi (82 km) from the city center.