Buena Vista is located in central Colorado on the Arkansas River. The town is built around a love for the outdoors. Every summer, tourists make the trip to Buena Vista for activities including camping, rafting, 4-wheeling, hunting, fishing, biking, and hiking. Ten of Colorado’s 58 “fourteeners” (peaks that have elevations above 14,000 feet) are located just west of Buena Vista. Winters are less crowded, but still see a fair number of visitors for backcountry skiing, snowmobiling and the hot springs.
More people raft on the Arkansas than any other river in the country. The area offers a ton of variety from class II (beginner) to class V (expert) trips. One of the most popular stretches is Brown’s Canyon.
While Buena Vista is first known for the rafting, the area offers plenty of additional options for outdoor adventure. Hikers stay in Buena Vista when attempting to conquer any of the fourteeners in the area. Fishers enjoy casting into the river. All visitors can appreciate the scenic views just walking or driving in the area.
Buena Vista is small but charming. Main Street is lined with about a dozen restaurants. The shopping options are limited, but there are some great outdoors stores as well as some boutiques.
Buena Vista is loaded with options for hot springs. One of the most popular destinations is Cottonwood, where visitors can stay overnight camping or in lodges. Another great option is Mt. Princeton, which is located between Buena Vista and Salida. This is a true destination with an on-site spa and lodging. The resort has dozens of pools and a 30-foot waterslide.
Winters are cool, but fairly mild and dry compared to other mountain towns in Colorado. Average daily high temps are in the low 40s. Winters are great for the snow sports and visiting the hot springs.
Spring is relatively dry compared to other parts of the state. It isn't a very popular time to visit as it is a "shoulder season" in between prime times to visit.
Summers are the busy season. Daily high temps are in the 80s, which is great for all of the outdoor activities. Temps drop to the 40s at night, so plan appropriately if camping.
Early fall is a popular time to visit to see the changing of the colors. The tough part about fall is that it is too late for rafting and too early the winter sports.