Buena Vista is the quintessential Colorado river town. Sitting on the west bank of the Arkansas River and framed by the matchless Collegiate range to the west and the Mosquito range to the eas, this small town has an adventure in every direction.
The Climate of Buena Vista
Situated about in the middle of the Arkansas Valley, Buena Vista sits an elevation of 8,000 feet, which is about 1,000 feet higher in elevation than its larger neighbor to the south, Salida. That means that the climate is a bit cooler and wetter than the southern end of the valley; with average highs in the middle of summer only reaching the low 80’s and nighttime lows in the middle winter reaching the low teens.
Precipitation averages 10 inches annually, slightly more than the rest of the valley. As with the rest of the Arkansas Valley, that precipitation mostly comes during the late summer monsoon season. Afternoon thundershowers bounce around the peaks and across the valley floor. Despite its altitude and proximity to the big peaks of Mount Harvard and Mount Princeton, the town only gets about four feet of snow in the winter. It can snow as early as October and as late as Memorial Day, but mainly occurs December through April.
Recreation around Buena Vista
In the summer, the Arkansas River provides miles of rafting and kayaking in each direction from the challenging to family-friendly trips. Approximately a dozen different guide services call Buena Vista home. However, rafting is not all there is to do in the area. Hiking and mountain biking trails stretch from town to miles into the backcountry. There is also road biking and gravel riding where the altitude will test your fitness. Jeeps and ATV’s remain popular vehicles for exploration as well with miles of forest roads and specially designated areas. The ghost town of St. Elmo attracts many visitors each summer.
Eating, Drinking, and Festivals in Buena Vista
Like most Colorado towns, numerous local eating and drinking establishments exist to serve citizens and locals alike. They are spread around town, but Main Street and South Main both have several in close proximity to each other. The town supports its own brewery and a craft distillery as well. The downtown area on Main street has some shopping, but not to the extent of Leadville and Salida. The shops tend to be more recreation focused.
Buena Vista hosts numerous festivals each summer. Visitors come to enjoy the Gold Rush Days, King Boletus Mushroom Festival, the Trans Rockies Run, and Paddlefest, just to name a few. Free outdoor concerts are held weekly in the summer and a festival area is being set up for larger music events.