20 Attractions to Explore Near Pike and San Isabel National Forest

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'.

A majestic hill that was located in the heart of Chaffee, which offers breathtaking views and its trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see local wildlife located near Buena Vista, Colorado.

Buena Vista is situated in scenic Chaffee County, between the Collegiate Peaks and the Arkansas River in south-central Colorado, and is known for its laid-back, mountain-town vibe .Buena Vista is sometimes referred as the “banana belt”, because of its temperate and arid climate that provides 300+ days of sunlight. It’s common for someone to ride a snowmobile or cross-country ski in snowy, frigid conditions in the mountains, and then return to Buena Vista.

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.

Trout Creek Pass, elevation 9,346 ft is a mountain pass located in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado in the United States. The pass sits atop the southern end of the Mosquito Range on the Park-Chaffee county line, between South Park and the headwaters of the Arkansas River to the west. It is traversed jointly by U.S. Highway 24 and US 285. It is passable by most motorized vehicles and is closed only during severe winter storms.

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.

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.

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 Princeton rises dramatically from the upper Arkansas River valley, its 14,204-foot summit a stately sentinel over the land below. Mount Princeton carries many distinctions, both historic, geological and recreational. It is also a good trekking destination nd also it offers nice views of this area.

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.

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.

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.

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.