Did you all get a chance to see Tenderfoot Mountain (S Mountain) awash in the Northern Lights? It was spectacular! Big thanks to StayinSalida guest Timothy Dwenger for providing these gorgeous shots of it!
Colorado hidden treasures
Ruins at Las Mesitas, Colorado
About 100 straight south of Salida, CO, stands the shell of what was once a mission church at Las Mesitas, Colorado....
360-degree Colorado Aspen grove fall colors
The golden and amber hues of a Colorado river valley in the fall…unbeatable.
Kenosha Pass Leaf Peeping
Kenosha Pass is the place to be! So avoid it if you’re in a hurry. Sources say the fall colors will take their time making the southward journey across the fair state of Colorado. Here’s to a nice, long leaf-peeping season and many golden hikes and bike rides!
Moose on the Loose in Downtown Salida
This juvenile moose created quite a stir last week when he pranced into downtown Salida, briefly chased some fool who tried to approach him, and then slipped into the Arkansas River for a quick dip before moseying out of town into the Arkansas hills.
Marmot Sighting!
Also called “whistle pigs” because of the delightful sounds they make and their rather portly bodies, marmots have extensive dens and burrows systems with multiple entrances, tunnels, and exits that are used for shelter, hibernation, and breeding. They live 80% of their lives underground, so it’s a rare treat to see one.
Fawns on Lawns
The summer's second crop of babies are running around the streets of Salida!
Benson’s Beer Garden, on F Street, Salida, CO
Check it out, Benson's Beer Garden has food specials again! And occasional live music on that amazing outdoor stage....
Uncle Ed Retires!!!! Salida’s best loved clown
You guys know Uncle Ed, right? He’s the one who’s been making balloon art for years at all the Salida town festivals, farmers markets, circus performances and what-have-ye. Did you know he’s also been a professional rodeo clown and bull rider for most of his life? Last weekend at the Chaffee County Fair, he had his last ride and is set to retire. Read all about it in this coming week’s Mountain Mail, “Salida Natives” column.
Mount/Chief Ouray, just outside Salida, CO
The Devil’s Armchair! This is the bowl under the peak of Mount Ouray, visible from Salida if you look southwesterly. The hike up to it only takes about 2.5 hours (+1.5 to get down), and there are several stream crossings to keep you cool along the way. Local legend has it the feature got it’s name …
Live music listening room in Poncha Springs, @vinosalidawinebar
What an amazing place to experience a singer/songwriter! Thanks, Vino Salida, for creating such an intimate and...
Purple/pink cones of the ancient Bristlecone Pinetree
Ever seen the bright magenta pine cones of a Bristlecone pine tree? Look for them just below treeline where this OLDEST KNOWN SPECIES thrives. This tree can live for over 4,000 years!
Broken Strings Guitar Shop Window Display
Two young, aspiring musicians ogle the guitars in Broken Strings guitar shop, on F St. in Salida. If you’re in the market for a guitar, check this place out! They’ve got scads of great axes!
Poet Mark Irwin to read at Salida’s Museum of Authenticity…
Poetry event in Salida! Anytime something comes to town that’s not bluegrass or Grateful Dead (no disrespect to either, of course), get out there and show your support! Keep Salida interesting!
Spring Rain and Snow is Melting off Fast in Salida!
Salida got several inches of wet, heavy spring snow and rain over the weekend, making for a pretty murky Arkansas River. But it’s clearing up gorgeously, and this could be our greenest spring in a while! The sun is back out and melting everything off nicely, so the trails should be ride-able by Wednesday. Come play in Salida this weekend! Book directly on StayinSalida.com to get the best deal on your stay!
Moose Playing around Beaver Creek near Fairplay, Colorado
Less than a mile north of the cute little town of Fairplay, Colorado, on the Beaver Creek trail. These four moose made a brief appearance before disappearing back into the forest above the creek. Ski it, snowshoe it, or just hike it (likely not fit for bikes for at least a couple more months). It’s an easy trek you can make as short as you like, or follow it around all day!
Royal Gorge of the Arkansas River
Spectacular sunny views from the hiking and biking trails just outside of Royal Gorge Park. This time of year, there’s almost no one on them, and they’re surprisingly dry and warm. Miles and miles of easy biking and hiking trails to explore, and
Hidden ski trail and creek near Monarch, Colorado
Not far from Monarch Ski Area, this little gem of an unofficial trail was ripe for laying down fresh tracks.
Snow on the Smelter smokestack
Salida’s local photographer and filmmaker Bill Donovan captured this drone shot of Salida’s smelter dusted in snow. We’re slated to get a bit more of the white stuff Wednesday night, but fingers crossed most of it falls up at Monarch Ski Area!
Durango Speakeasy
Ever entered a hidden bar/lounge through a library wall in a barber shop? Welp, head on over to Durango, CO, and you can do it. Excellent cocktails and ambiance.
Old Monarch Pass XC trek on a bluebird mornin…
Sunrise above the Continental Divide, with a sliver of a moon visible on the other side of the trail. Old Monarch Pass is all dressed up in snow and ready for your cross county outings!
Day of the Dead, Salida-Style
Salida’s Dia de Los Muertos procession ended at the F street bridge where folks were invited to throw ashes and flower petals into the river in memory of their loved ones.
Gothic, CO – ghost town turned climate research station
The gorgeous little ghost town of Gothic was named for the rocky spires that overlook the town like so many medieval church towers. The town has a handful of hearty, year-round residents, but in the summer it is mostly populated by climate researchers and hikers heading up into the Maroon Bells Wilderness area.
Fairview Cemetery of Salida, Colorado…
The lovely Fairview Cemetery on the edge of Salida, Colorado. You can get there from Airport Road (CR 140) or Crestone Avenue (CR 160).
Greetings from the King of Upper Como, Colorado, one of the state’s favorite railroad ghost towns
If you’re in the area Aug. 19th, check out Como’s Railroad Day festival! They’ll have the roundhouse fired up and will offer little pumpcart rides on the rails. See you there!