Pike and San Isabel National Forest - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

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.

This is one of the nation’s most popular locations for whitewater rafting and kayaking and home to the most commercially rafted river in the United States. It extends about 148 miles from Leadville to the Pueblo Reservoir through the towns of Buena Vista, Salida, Caсon City, and Florence. The spectacular scenery is highlighted by the steep, narrow, rocky canyons that provide excellent opportunities to view Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

Chinaman Gulch is a very popular, difficult rock crawling trail best suited for modified vehicles. Minimal snow to the area makes it an ideal location for winter wheeling. There are many obstacles and rocks to play on along this 4wd trail, many of which provide multiple lines from easy to hard. Although not very scenic, the occasional views of the Collegiate Peaks are astonishing.

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.

Black Mountain is a peak in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 7,200-foot summit is located in Park County, Colorado, United States. Black Mountain is notable for its prominence and ruggedness, as it rises nearly 5,000 feet above the adjacent South Park basin in only 1.6 miles. The mountain is part of the Mosquito Range and is one of Colorado's fifty-three fourteeners. Black mountain has three summits, the highest of which is unofficially named "North Summit".

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'.