Salida, Colorado – Where Adventure Meets Family Fun
- anywayyoutravel
- Aug 15
- 6 min read
Tucked away in Colorado's Arkansas River Valley...surrounded by the towering peaks of the Sawatch Range...Salida, Colorado is the kind of town where rugged adventure, great hiking, and warm, family-friendly charm all meet. This small mountain community has a place for every traveler, including those who love outdoor and water adventure and for those who want a place where they can slow down, connect, and make lasting memories.
If you’re seeking adrenaline, Salida delivers — think whitewater rafting and surfing on one of America’s most famous rivers, hiking or biking through old Midland Train Tunnels, or standing on the edge of the Royal Gorge as feel the wind in your face and take in amazing views. If you’re here for family time, you’ll find safe streets, riverside parks, art-filled downtown blocks, and a pace of life that lets you soak in the moment.
Whether you’re in it for thrill rides or tranquil afternoons, Salida has it all...and the mountains seem to welcome you in — and send you home with a little some peace and a ton of memories!
Pro Tips for Your Salida Vacation
Before we look at all Salida has to offer, here are some Pro-Tips:
Pack for all weather conditions – Even in July, you might start your morning in a fleece jacket and end the day in shorts. Mountain weather changes fast, so layers are your best friend.
Reserve activities in advance – Whitewater rafting trips, popular hiking tours, and Royal Gorge tickets can book up quickly, especially on weekends in summer.
Consider staying downtown – Lodging within walking distance of the main streets puts you close to restaurants, galleries, and the scenic Riverwalk, making it easy to enjoy Salida without constant driving.
Exploring Downtown Salida & Riverside Fun
Salida's historic downtown is the heartbeat of the area. Here, 19th-century brick buildings house artisan boutiques, outdoor gear shops, and comfy cafés where the smell of fresh-baked pastries drifts into the street. There are tons of restaurants that offer everything from
delicious steaks, Mexican fare, Pizza, Sushi, and comfort food.
The downtown is filled with buildings that are part of Colorado’s largest historic district, so even a casual stroll feels like stepping into a living museum. Local galleries showcase the work of painters, photographers, and sculptors inspired by Salida’s mountain backdrop. Murals splashed across alley walls tell stories of miners, river guides, and the town’s evolution from a frontier stop to a creative hub.
At the end of downtown, Riverside Park offers a family-friendly oasis. Kids can tackle the playground while parents relax at picnic tables shaded by cottonwood trees. The Riverwalk, a paved path tracing the Arkansas River, is ideal for a morning jog or a slow, scenic walk. In summer, the river becomes a stage for kayakers and rafters — and the park is one of the best spots to watch them navigate the rapids....the rapids?? Yup...rapids!
Water Adventures on the Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is more than just a backdrop for Salida — it’s the town’s lifeblood. For adventure seekers, it offers some of the most celebrated whitewater rafting in the nation. Guided trips take you through frothy Class III and IV rapids in Browns Canyon National Monument, where granite walls and pine-covered cliffs rise dramatically on either side.
Families and beginners can choose calmer sections downstream, perfect for tubing, paddleboarding, or a relaxing float. Local outfitters provide everything from safety gear to shuttle service, making it easy to spend a day on the water without worry. Fishing enthusiasts will find the river teeming with trout, especially in the quieter eddies just outside town. You can get your Colorado fishing license online, by phone, or in person at a license retailer or at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices...there is an office in Salida. Non-residents can buy a license for a specific time frame such as one day, or a week.
If you happen to visit Salida in June, you might catch FIBArk — “First in Boating on the Arkansas” — the oldest whitewater festival in America. It’s a community celebration with races, live music, food vendors, and a huge dose of mountain-town pride.
The Royal Gorge – Colorado’s Grand Canyon
While in Salida, it is WELL worth it to take some time and head east, about an hour’s drive, and take in the amazing Royal Gorge. It delivers a view that will quite literally take your breath away. Known as the “Grand Canyon of the Arkansas,” this massive chasm is over 1,200 feet wide and plunges nearly 1,000 feet to the Arkansas River below.
The star attraction is the Royal Gorge Bridge, once the highest suspension bridge in the
world. Walking across it feels like floating...the wind in your face...with panoramic views of the surrounding cliffs and the river far beneath your feet. Thrill-seekers can take the aerial gondola, race across the zip line, or try the “Royal Rush Skycoaster” — a swing that arcs out over the edge of the canyon. Pro-Tip: Buy your tickets online and you can save some money!
But, there are also activities for the kids. Let the kids burn off some energy at the Kids Paradise at the Playland. They have climbing walls, slides, and interactive features to spark you child's imagination. For teens there the Skycoaster and the Cloudscraper Zipline.
If you're looking for a more laid-back visit, explore the visitor center exhibits, enjoy a picnic at one of the scenic overlooks, or ride the historic Royal Gorge Route Railroad, which winds through the canyon along the river’s edge.
The Old Maxwell Schoolhouse
Just north of Salida sits a humble yet powerful reminder of the area’s early settlement days of the area — the Maxwell Schoolhouse. It was built in 1889 out of hand made hollow
cement blocks. The school had no running water, electricity, or indoor plumbing. There was a well across the road to the south. There was also a sh
ed for the students to keep their horses or mules. The his and her outhouses were to the back of the building. The small shed attached to the back of the building was the coal shed.
The one-room school served the children of ranchers, farmers, and miners in the surrounding valley. In 1933, the school was closed and children transfered to consolidated school districts such as Salida. By the 1940s, the school had deteriorated substantially.
In 2001 local residents worked to rehabilitate the school. However, today, due to vandalism, visitors can no longer go into the school and the windows are boarded up. But the building is a glance into the past when things were different, It’s a small but meaningful stop for anyone interested in Colorado’s pioneer history.
The Midland Train Tunnels – A Railroad Legacy
Build by the Colorado Midland Railway, the railway which went through the Midland Train Tunnels undertook the effort to connect Denver to north and Pueblo to the south, with Colorado Springs. Then the railway headed west to the mining towns of Leadville and Aspen. It ran to just to the north of Salida.
The line required cutting through rugged mountains, resulting in the Midland train tunnels north of Salida. These hand-blasted passages were engineering marvels for their time, allowing trains to navigate steep grades and tight curves.
The railway thrived briefly, transporting ore, supplies, and passengers, but financial troubles, competition from the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, and the expense of maintenance eventually led to its closure in 1918....leaving behind depots, trains, and tunnels...some of which still exist today.
The Mideland Train Tunnels also remain and today, they are accessible to hikers, bikers, and photographers who want to experience a piece of railroading history while enjoying sweeping views of the valley.
Some Pro-Tip when driving to see these, and perhaps hike or bke, be cautious and courteous as drive through the tunnels. Take turns...you cannot pass another vehicle while in the tunnels. If you ride your bike through the tunnels, if you see a car coming, don't be stubborn, pull to the side as you come out of a tunnel and let a car pass. It is dark in the tunnels and you may not be seen.
The True Headwaters of the Arkansas River
Many travelers spot the “Headwaters of the Arkansas River” sign along Highway 24 and pull over for a quick photo — but the river’s actual source lies even higher. The true
headwaters are fed by snowmelt from Mount Elbert, Colorado’s tallest peak at 14,440 feet, along with other surrounding mountains in the Sawatch Range.
Here, tiny alpine streams trickle down into Lake Fork Creek and other tributaries, merging to form the Arkansas River. From this humble start, the river winds its way southeast through Salida, carving canyons and powering towns, before traveling more than 1,400 miles to join the Mississippi River in Arkansas. Standing near the true headwaters is a humbling reminder of how small beginnings can grow into something mighty.
Final Reflections
We didn't know what to expect when we visit Salida. Was it going to be a sleepy little country town, was there going to be anything to do, would there be great places to eat? We weren't disappointed! Both of us felt like Salida was a town in which WE could live...if we didn't travel full time.
We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and, to be honest, we weren't really ready to go when the time came.
If you're looking for a fun family vacation, or a quiet get away where you can enjoy beauty and relaxation, or, a time of wild, adventurous time of outdoor activity...Salida, Colorado is definitely a place to consider!
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