THE EXPERIENCE
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Waking up in Buena Vista is one of the best parts of our lives and we invite you to do the same! After grabbing breakfast in one of the many options a short walk from your temporary home, you can take a coffee and cruise to the river park, where you can hike, run, bike, or sit on a rock and watch the current float on by. The lodge invites slow mornings that turn into adventurous afternoons. Whether you’re here to raft the Arkansas River, snowmobile up on Cottonwood Pass, bag one of the many 14ers, or leaf peep, the options are endless to create the perfect day. Ending with a happy hour at The Buena Viking, and a short walk home.
SUMMER
RAFTING is the name of the game in our awesome valley. The Arkansas River offers multiple stretches from class II - class V whitewater. There are multiple outfitters that will make your river dream come true, and if you have the skills, our neighbor Colorado River Supply is right next door with rentals of kayaks, duckies, SUPS, and rafts. If water isn’t your thing, summer is the prime time for hiking the peaks and biking the trails. It’s also the season for concerts at multiple music venues in our town such as The Ivy Ballroom and The Lariat.
FALL
Some say people come for the summer and stay for the fall in Buena Vista. Fall is a mellower time, with the changing of the seasons. There is limitless leaf peeping and the temps are perfect for exploration by bike, ATVs, or foot. You find more “local’s specials” and fall festivals. Don’t miss the hot springs in this season, whether it’s Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, Cottonwood Hot Springs, or the newly opened Charlotte Hot Springs.
WINTER
We think it’s a point of pride that we don’t have a ski resort right out our front door, as you get to enjoy a quiet mountain town after your short drive to the slopes. Monarch is a 45 minute drive one direction and Copper Mountain is an hour or so the other way! If you love the solitude of a quiet forest on your own, Cottonwood Pass is a haven for cross country skiing, ski touring, and snowmobiling. Book your stay in December - March for the snowy day dreams are made of.
SPRING
Buena Vista is located in the “Banana Belt” of Colorado. Spring is a special time to either drive to the slopes for some amazing spring skiing complete with a suntan, or sticking around town and hiking, biking or ATVing on the east side of town. 4 Mile Recreation area boasts 100,000 acres of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands. One of our favorite parts of spring is that you can drive to the west and have winter and the east for warmth and spring-like conditions.
