Salida, CO
 

Seriously considering a move to Salida. Been researching it for a few days now. We've found a new development we love. We drove thru last summer and thought it looked prettty good. Any one have any more info? I've talked to the 2 bike shops in town and ArkAnglers. I know there is a good contingent of tele skiers at Monarch.

Not only tele skiing at Monarch, also on over to Crested Butte where it all began. Sweet backcountry skiing too off Monarch, St Elmo/Mt Princeton area and in the Sangre de Christo range at times. It's a great location, road biking, and especially mountain biking in the area is superb. It's a nice little town, good luck in your decision. Lot's of hot springs all over that area too.

If I had a job there, I'd move in a minute!

Hi Lala, if you move there can I crash in the back yard???? Hey, tele-commute, see if you can do that!

How does one support themself in Salida?

With the Colorado Trail, The Monarch Crest, and those are just the big name ones, the mountain biking must be amazing. I understand you could probably road bike near year round. Skiing at Monarch is a hoot, only spent a day there but had fun. Something like 9 of Colorado's 14k peaks right around there.

Good luck, sounds like heaven.

There is a Walmart in Salida.
Downtown is alive.
Whitewater Park runs through downtown.
Near the southern range of Denver weekend recreationalist.

Colorado has the ragingest road riding in the country. not as many cars as cali. You should move. you can find a job anywhere, you can't find leisure activities anywhere.

2/3 of your pay is the view you get every morning.

If I were a writer...

Or retired....

Or independently wealthy....

Salida is on my list.

One of my favorite camping spots is about 20 miles south of there in a place called Droz Creek. One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen!

If you can find a way to live there without working at Walmart or Safeway, then jump on it!

also, it is about 50 miles south of the real 'South Park'.

I own my own business and can do it from anywhere as long as I have a phone and internet connection
:)

The northern and central Rockies are having a banner ski season. I suggest you 'git on the road ASAP. :)

Salida is beautiful. You're right in the heart of the 14ers. I've never ridden there, but the skiing is wonderful. Monarch is great and I must give props to Copper Mountain, my fav.

There is an awsome bike shop there, its preaty cold in the winter and very snowy but awsome skiing in the winter and awsome riding in the summer.

It's a done deal. Signed the contract for the new house this week. One of the things I've been thinking about is the road riding. I currently do 4 group rides per week with a couple of different clubs. We visited the town in April (fished the Ark, skied Copper, Vail, Breck and A Basin. Monarch had just closed) and I did go to both of the bike shops. Obviously MTB is big there. :rolleyes: Interested in hearing about clubs in the area doing road rides?

I go to the Salida/BV area each summer for ww kayaking and biking. I love that area. My fav is up around Twin Lakes/Indy pass area. Ride from Twin Lakes up Indy Pass (12,000').....great ride. You prolly will ride back to Twin Lakes but if you set a shuttle, you can go on over Indy down to Aspen. Or, iffen you're a badass mtn goat you can ride back up from Aspen back to Twin Lakes. Some of the best road riding scenery to be found. Another is from downtown BV up Cottonwood Pass (12,000+') and back (road becomes gravel at the top going over toward Gunni). Major roads in the area have good riding shoulders (except Hwy 50 east back toward Canon City).

Also, some close friends are moving there as we speak. Dr Kent Davidson and wife, MaryAnn. You'll prolly get to know them in the future as it's a small community.

Also again. Learn to kayak. Upper Ark is hard to beat.


tommy

What's the problem with that stretch to Canon City? Heading out there tomorrow, and that is part of our route.

NO shoulder, hi speed traffic, windy road thru a canyon. lots of trucks. Be VERY careful.

The ride up Texas Creek is nice, think about riding down 50 that far, then up Texas Creek, it has no traffic at all. Up Texas Creek takes you up to Westcliffe, then you can keep riding south, or turn east toward Hardscabble pass.

If you want nothing of riding 50, take the bike in the car to park at Texas Creek and start riding there. I also like the ride into the San Luis Valley, there is also less traffic than on 50, and nice hill work out on the pass. Oh, and try Cottonwood Pass road out of Buena Vista, it's paved all the way the Crested Butte from what I've heard, check it out, that would be fun to ride to CB, spend the night and ride back.

Another, ride north to Twin Lakes and back, good shoulder and no passes (unless you are up for Independence). Highway 9 from 50 to Hartsel is sweet.

Good luck on the new life, it's a great place to explore.

I assume you're "heading out" in a vehicle. I wouldn't want to ride a road bike in that area for the reasons given.....alot of traffic, big trucks and no shoulder. Yes, there is some traffic on the other routes out of Salida but better shoulders. Hwy 50 East is where all the roads bottleneck going east out of Salida, therefore more traffic.

If you are riding the high pass roads like I discussed, I recommend riding earlier in the day. This avoids some traffic and the late afternoon thunderstorms. As a matter of fact...I don't remember much traffic at all riding up Indy Pass and Cottonwood Pass when I ride before noon.

tommy

You know what happens when you assume! No vehicle. Just a bike. Well, a bunch of bikes, so hopefully there won't be as much of an issue as if it were just me going solo.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll be more alert than usual on that stretch.

Congrats on the move to Salida!

I live in Montrose (about 2 hrs west). When you get settled in Salida and have ridden all the major rides out there, head out west; the Black Canyon ride is sweet, and if you're animal, you'll try your luck on the East Portal (18% over 5 miles).

Here's something to make you feel even better about Salida:

http://outside.away.com/outside/dest..._towns_13.html

Yes, we have seen that article. Thanks. Getting really excited. Just completed 185 mi ( 3 days) 'Trek Across Maine' fund raiser for Am Lung Assoc. There were a LOT of hills. :eek: Gee, what's it gonna be like in CO? :(

Yee Haw. They broke ground yesterday! And our house here has already sold. :)

We hit the road in 6 weeks. :) Yesterday we signed up for the Buena Vista Bike Fest in May. I'm going to do the Century and my wife wants to do the 50.
Route profile says 48 miles of climbing. :eek: But elevation gain is only 5000 ft or so. And the return is pretty much downhill and flat. :D So they say.

You probably already know this but it is called Colorado's banana belt.