Rides from Buena Vista

Buena Vista offers easy access to rides with beautiful views of the Sawatch Range’s Collegiate Peaks. Perhaps it’s no accident then, that the town’s name in Spanish stands for just that — a beautiful view. We suggests the following routes, often used by local mountain bike enthusiasts.

Arkansas River: For a ride along the river, turn east on Arkansas Street off U.S. 24. Turn left on CR 371.

CR 371 can also be reached by going down East Main Street (east at the stoplight) and turning left, north, onto Colorado Avenue, which turns into CR 371.

Soon, you’ll pass through four tunnels from the days of the old Colorado Midland Railroad and see some beautiful rock formations along the way.

It’s 10 miles to the Otero Pump Station. This is an easy ride on a dirt road.

Four-Mile Road: For a more difficult route, turn right on CR 375 off CR 371 just past the tunnels. Called Four Mile Road, this route climbs steeply. You can go about as far as you wish since this ride can extend to 15 miles, coming out at Trout Creek Pass. You can take the ride, though, and turn around where convenient.

Whipple Trail: Local bikers like to ride the Whipple Trail for exercise. You can catch this trail at the footbridge crossing the Arkansas at the end of E. Main street.

This is part of the Buena Vista River Park, a 100-acre public area that includes trails, fishing access, kayak and rafting play areas, picnic spots, sport fields and more.

Crossman Avenue Rides: Several rides start at Crossman Avenue (CR 350), west off U.S. 24 at the north end of town. For a ride along the foothills of 14,000- foot peaks, take Crossman to CR 361 and ride north.

North Cottonwood Creek: For a more difficult ride, take Crossman to CR 361 and make a sharp left on CR 365. Follow the U.S. Forest Service signs west to North Cottonwood Creek. Plan on a substantial elevation gain.

Rodeo Road: For a ride on asphalt, turn west off U.S. 24, at the stoplight, onto West Main. Turn left on Rodeo Road and follow CR 321. You can ride all the way to Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort and take a dip in the hot springs pool.