Salida, CO: beautiful mountain town is ideal for the outdoor enthusiast
April 2023: We visited Salida (population 5,666*) for a weekend get-away, having heard good things. It did not disappoint! This small mountain town has a wide array of amenities in a beautifully renovated historic downtown that would appeal to almost anyone, with a special emphasis on the outdoor enthusiasts. Nestled in a valley between the Sangre De Cristo and Sawatch Mountain ranges, Salida sits at 7000 feet elevation and is the county seat of Chaffee County.
Salida – A Brief history
The Ute people were original inhabitants of the area now known as Salida.
Europeans began to arrive after the Colorado Gold Rush of 1858-59. A railroad depot was established in 1880, at which time the town became known as Salida – which is the Spanish word for Exit. It is likely named either after its location, which is near the mouth of a canon of the Arkansas River, or as the outlet for numerous mining camps in the area.
Fires in Salida in 1886 and 1888 resulted in the banning of wood-frame buildings in its downtown commercial district, including the Salida Steam Plant (1887), which was one of the first Edison electric plants in the country.
In addition to serving as a regional hub for mining, railroad and banding activities, Salida also became known as an agricultural center. By the turn of the century, the population had increased to approximately 2000 people with two public schools, an opera house, several churches.
Salida’s population hovered around 5000, with the help its multiple industries. In the 1930s, a New Deal project involved the development of a hot springs center on the southwest side of town, employing several hundred workers. The facility is now known as the Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center.
In the late 1980s, the city acquired the steam plan building and converted it into a community theater and events center, while maintaining is old power plant vibe.
Salida today
Today the Salida economy is centered on service, retail and real-estate related to its outdoor recreation tourism industry, as well as the Heart of the Rockies regional medical center.
Downtown vibe
We stayed in a beautifully restored loft in historic downtown of Salida during our visit. Therefore we were able to enjoy walking almost everywhere we wanted to explore. Below are a couple of restaurants (out of many options!) that we visited and can personally recommend.
- Mo Burrito – Google Maps – casual fun vibe
- Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub – Google Maps – good food and they make their own very tasty beer
- Boathouse Cantina – Google Maps – loved the outdoor seating right next to the river, with a clear view of the “S” on Tenderfoot Hill.
We stopped by a local microbrewery and coffee shop!
- Brown Dog Coffee Company – Google Maps – good coffee and baked goods with fun vibe
- Tres Litros Beer Company – Google Maps – loved the daytime vibe! Lots of inside seating, that can become open air when their garage door is open. Plus more outdoor seating on the curbside deck. We tried a flight variety and liked them all!
Walkability
Much of our time was spent walking around and enjoying the beautiful spring weather (finally! it’s been a long winter…) in this vibrant place. Salida has a couple of pretty great active options.
First there is the historic downtown itself, which is approximately 3 x 4 blocks and right next to a park at the side of the Arkansas River. There are several nearby historic neighborhoods with renovated historic homes and many examples of public art.
Secondly, from Riverside Park, there is easy access to many well-marked and well-maintained hiking and biking trails which provide an excellent overview of the city.
There was a mountain biking event called the Salida Enduro in nearby hills the weekend of our visit. While hiking those same hills, we encountered a group that was actively working on increasing the network of trails in the area.
Fun Fact: There is a giant ‘S’ on Tenderfoot Hill overlooking Salida. Every year, on the Friday after Thanksgiving, this landmark turns into Christmas Mountain by creating a 750 foot Christmas Tree made of 4,500 brightly-colored bulbs (source: Colorfulcolorado.com).
Thirdly there is a mostly-straight and level 3 mile paved trail from downtown to the Walmart on the outskirts of town. There is a baseball park and a dog park along the way. It also runs right next to a Safeway grocery store. We saw sever locals making use of the easy accessibility without using a car.
And finally, if you are up for a longer walk or an easy bike ride, there is a paved path along country road 120 that leads right up the the Elevations Beer Company on the outskirts of nearby Poncha Springs.
- Elevation Beer Company – Google Maps – This is a great place with inside, outdoor and outdoor tented seating areas – bring your kids and your dogs!
More to explore!
Salida has Colorado’s largest National Historic District and the first Certified Creative District.
The Salida Chamber of Commerce has more online information
- Salida community profile (pdf format)
- Monthly festivals (website) – seriously! They have multiple events, every month
- Guided Walking tours (website)
- First Timers Guide to Salida (webpage)
- Multipe webcam Live video (webpage)
For more information: smalltownresearch.org
