20 Attractions to Explore Near Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

The Salida Ranger District is part of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands. it manages more than 440,000 acres in central Colorado. It's an outdoor recreation paradise with seven 14,000-foot peaks "fourteeners", three wilderness areas, and Browns Canyon National Monument.

Poncha Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado, located on the continental divide in the Sawatch Range, within the San Isabel National Forest. The pass is an important section of U.S. Highway 50 and is traversed by the Rio Grande Railroad. It is one of the few transcontinental railroad passes in North America not currently served by Amtrak. The highest point on Poncha Pass is 12,095 feet, making it one of the highest mountain passes in Colorado.

San Isabel National Forest is a stunning stretch of wilderness, which covers nearly 1.4 million acres and includes seven different mountain ranges, making it a paradise for hiking, camping, and fishing. There are also plenty of opportunities for wildlife watching. In addition to its natural beauty, San Isabel National Forest also has a rich history. Today, the Forest is a popular recreation destination for both locals and visitors from all over the world.

The Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands covers nearly three million acres from western Kansas and Colorado's highest mountain peaks along the Continental Divide. This landscape offers a variety of ecosystems rich in history, geology, scenery, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities.

This is a 7-mile trail to the Continental Divide or 6 miles to the Green’s Creek Crossing. The lower section of the trail is smooth and winds through tight aspen trees. The upper section is steep, wet, and rocky. The trail is used by hikers, horseback riders, bikers and motorized dirt bikes.

O'Haver Lake is a reservoir in Chaffee County, Colorado in the San Isabel National Forest. It is located about two miles from U.S. Highway 50 west of Poncha Pass. The lake and adjacent campground are just off Forest Road 200, also known as Marshall Pass Road. The pass is about twelve miles up the road from the lake.

Mount Shavano is a high mountain summit in the southern Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. It is famous for the Angel of Shavano, a snow formation in the image of an angel that emerges on the east face of the mountain during snow melt each spring. A good trekking destination and also it offers breathtaking views of this area.

Mount Ouray is a mountain peak in Saguache County. With an elevation of 12,943 feet, it is the county's highest point. The mountain is located in the San Juan Mountains, a range of the Rocky Mountains. Mount Ouray is named for Chief Ouray of the Ute tribe, who lived in the area. The mountain has been a popular destination for hikers and climbers since the late 19th century. A trail to the summit was built in 1887, making it one of the first mountains in Colorado to be accessible by trail.

Tabeguache Peak is the 26th highest peak in Colorado. It is one of the lesser known of the Colorado 14ers. It is a near neighbor of the higher peak Mount Shavano, which lies approximately 1/2 mile to the southeast, and is close to being a subpeak of the latter. Tabeguache Peak is often climbed in conjunction with Mount Shavano. Previously, Tabeguache seemed a more significant mountain because the bulk of this route to both peaks took place on its slopes.

A beautiful 21,586 acres national monument in Chaffee County, which is centered along the Arkansas River between Buena Vista and Salida. It is the most popular destination for whitewater rafting in the country, and is also known for its fishing and hiking. It is also protected habitat for bighorn sheep, peregrine falcons, elk, and golden eagles.

Mount Antero is the highest Colorado mountain named after a native American Indian. It is primarily known to have the highest gem field and high concentrations of aquamarine within the conterminous United States. There are several active private mining claims being exploited on Mount Antero and surrounding peaks. There are two popular climbing routes on Mount Antero.

Marshall Pass is a high mountain pass that has been used for centuries by Native Americans and early settlers. The pass was named for James Marshall, who discovered gold in California in 1848. In the late 1800s, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad built a line through the pass, and it became an important route for trade and travel. Today, Marshall Pass is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and cross-country skiing. The scenic route offers stunning views of the valley below.

Experience this 10.9-km out-and-back trail near Nathrop, Colorado. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 28 min to complete. This trailhead is at 8,900' and there is a large parking area. If you have a good clearance 4WD, you can continue up the narrow 322 (Mt. Princeton) road. Just after the lower parking area, there is a fork in the road - stay right on the main road. Drive 3 miles to the radio towers at 10,800'.

Chalk Creek is a 27.3-mile-long river flowing east from the Collegiate Peaks mountain range in Chaffee County. The river is surrounded by a mix of privately owned and US forest service land. Campgrounds and public trails, including the Colorado Trail, are located along the length of the river. Several hot springs emerge in this valley.The river is named after the magnificent white kaolinite cliffs that stand at the entrance to the Chalk Creek valley, and are a result of hot spring deposits.

Hunt Lake Trail is a short hike below the Continental Divide north of the summit of Monarch Pass and east of Salida, Colorado. The trail is fairly steep in places and moves over rocky, rough terrain. Hiking poles are a good idea to provide yourself with extra stability. Ensure that you have proper footwear that offer good stability for this rough granite trail with has lots of ups and downs.

Cronin Peak is Colorado's 75th highest summit. It is a gently sloped, reddish mountain in the Sawatch Range. it is one of the iconic trekking destination and also there are so many things to see and do here.

Chalk Lake is a beautiful lake lcoated in the heart of Chaffee and is famous for fishing too. It is a very popular campground with an array of recreational opportunities like hiking, mountain biking and off-road vehicle riding.

Cascade Canyon is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It has numerous polished glacial erratics, hanging cirques and a U-shape as evidences that demonstrate that glaciers once filled the canyon to a depth of at least 2,000 feet. Cascade Creek now flows where the glaciers once did and the numerous waterfalls, such as the 100-foot tall Hidden Falls, found within the gorge are popular destinations with tourists.

Agnes Vaille Falls is nestled in the mountainside of Chalk Creek Canyon, south of Buena Vista. It requires a short, uphill hike to the falls.This trail is, however, still being taken today, as there are no officials signs stating it is still closed. Social media shows much activity on the once closed trail.

Monarch Pass is one of the most breathtaking and fun to visit high elevation mountain passes in Colorado. The pass carries U.S. Highway 50 over the Sawatch Range, providing a route between Tomichi Creek in the upper basin of the Gunnison River on the west and the South Arkansas River, a tributary of the Arkansas River, on the east. The pass is widely considered one of the most scenic in Colorado, offering a panoramic view of the southern end of the Sawatch Range from the summit.