From the Spanish word "departure", Salida certainly is a departure from the ordinary! Surrounded on all sides by mountains, the town boasts incredibly mild weather all year long that accommodates many not-so-mild recreational activities. Because of its ideal location in south central Colorado’s Upper Arkansas River Valley, Salida is the destination for many outdoor sports, most notably for whitewater rafting. Located approximately three hours from Denver by car, the town is a fairly well-kept secret, possessing all of the attractions of many other mountain towns, but without the extreme weather, crowds and inevitable resort town costs. Salida not only offers worldclass rafting, kayaking, biking and fishing, but also shopping, art galleries and fine dining too.

Historical Insights

The Ute Indians, for whom many of the surrounding mountain peaks are named, were the first to settle in the Salida area. Later, fur-trappers, miners and frontiersmen like the famous Zebulon Pike and Kit Carson, came to the area in search of pelts, gold, silver and land, eventually forcing the Ute people out. As the mining trade grew in the area, Salida became a noticeable hub between other mining towns and agriculture communities. After the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad built a line along the Arkansas River Valley, connecting Pueblo with the mining districts of Leadville in 1880, downtown Salida ballooned.

The town has survived multiple fires, train crashes and even a flu epidemic, but today, this hearty little town wears its mash-up of historical influences— Native American, mining, trapping, exploring, railroad expansionist, farming, ranching—proudly on its sleeve. The Salida Museum, which displays many historical items and photographs from the area, is a hot spot for any history buff (salidachamber.org/museum).