Local Information
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 belt" of Colorado.
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. 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.
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.
Salida sits right in the middle of the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, 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. Salida is also only 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.