Ask five different Salida locals what to do this summer and you’ll get five different answers, but they’ll all start with “well, it depends what kind of day you’re in the mood for.” That’s kind of the whole point of this town. Summer here isn’t a checklist so much as a rotation: river one day, mountain the next, downtown the day after that, repeat until September.
If you’re planning a trip this summer, here are 12 ways to spend your time the way people who actually live here do, some obvious, a few you won’t find on the typical “top things to do” list.
1. Float or Raft the Arkansas River Through Browns Canyon
This is the one everyone should do at least once. Browns Canyon National Monument, just upstream from Salida, is one of the most popular whitewater stretches in Colorado, with local outfitters running everything from mellow float trips to full-on Class III rapids. Locals tend to pick their trip based on mood, a lazy afternoon float if it’s hot, something bigger if they’re feeling it.
2. Play in the Whitewater Park (Even If You’re Not Rafting)
You don’t need a raft to enjoy the river. The Salida Whitewater Park, right through downtown, draws kayakers surfing the standing waves all summer long, and it’s just as fun to grab a spot on the bank, dip your feet in, and watch. Riverside Park sits right alongside it, with shade, a playground, and enough grass to make an afternoon out of doing basically nothing.
3. Hike Up to the Big “S” on Tenderfoot Mountain
Look up from almost anywhere downtown and you’ll spot the giant “S” on the hillside, that’s Tenderfoot Mountain, known locally as S Mountain. The hike up is short, a little steep, and absolutely worth it for the view back down over Salida, the river, and the Sawatch Range. It’s the kind of hike you can squeeze in before dinner.
4. Soak at the Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center
After a day on the trail or the river, this is where locals go to recover. The Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center is one of the largest indoor mineral hot springs pools in North America, and it’s a genuinely great way to end a long day outside, sore legs included.
5. Catch Free Live Music at Riverside Park
Summer evenings in Salida usually mean a free concert at the Riverside Park Rotary Amphitheater. Grab a blanket, bring something to eat, and settle in along the river for a night of local and touring musicians. It’s one of those things that sounds simple and ends up being everyone’s favorite part of the trip.
6. Wander the Downtown Art Galleries
Salida holds the distinction of being Colorado’s first Certified Creative District, and it shows the moment you start walking Salida’s historic downtown, Colorado’s largest historic district, packed with working galleries and studios. If your trip lines up with a First Friday, downtown stays open late with live music and open studios. Even outside of that, an evening stroll through the gallery district is a great way to slow a summer day down.
7. Cast a Line (or Just Watch the Trout)
With more than seventy miles of public river access, the Arkansas is a serious destination for anglers, but you don’t have to fish to enjoy it. The Mt. Shavano Fish Hatchery, just outside town, offers free daily tours in summer where you can see where a lot of Colorado’s stocked trout actually come from. It’s a nice, low-key stop, especially if you’ve got kids along.
8. Ride the Arkansas Hills Trail System
For mountain bikers, this is local ground zero. The Arkansas Hills Trail System sits just north of downtown and offers a range of routes, from short, mellow loops to longer rides with real climbing, all within a few minutes of town. If you’re up for a bigger day, the legendary Monarch Crest Trail is a short drive away and worth building a whole day around.
9. Go on a Llama Trek
This is the one that surprises people. Spruce Ridge Llamas run half-day, full-day, and overnight guided pack trips into the backcountry around Salida, with a llama carrying the gear so you don’t have to. It’s a genuinely different way to experience the mountains, and it’s very on-brand for a town that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
10. Sip Something Local
Salida punches well above its weight for a town this size when it comes to breweries and distilleries. An evening of patio-hopping between a few downtown spots is a very normal way to spend a summer night here, and most are happy to let you bring the dog along.
11. Catch Live Music at Highside, Tres Litros, or Soggy Surfer
Riverside Park isn’t the only place to hear music in Salida on a summer night. High Side Bar & Grill, Tres Litros Beer Company, and Soggy Surfer all bring in local and touring acts throughout the season, and each has a different feel, High Side leans lively and social, Tres Litros has that easy brewery-patio energy, and Soggy Surfer keeps things laid-back and a little unexpected. Locals tend to just check who’s playing where on a given night and go from there rather than committing to one spot every time.
12. Do Absolutely Nothing By the Creek
Not every hour of a Salida summer needs a plan. Locals will tell you that some of the best afternoons are the ones spent doing nothing in particular near moving water, a book, a hammock, bare feet in a creek. After a few days of rafting, hiking, and downtown wandering, this is usually the one people end up wishing they’d scheduled more of.
Where to Stay While You Do All of This
If number 12 sounds appealing, it helps to already be somewhere that has a creek. At Creekside Chalets, our cabins and creekside campsites sit right along the water, just far enough from downtown to feel quiet, close enough to be there in ten minutes. Private hot tubs help with the sore-legs-after-a-hike part too.
If you’re planning a longer visit, we’ve also put together a few other local guides worth a look: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Salida in the Summer, and if you’re bringing a dog along, The Best Places to Enjoy Late Summer With Your Dog.