31 1 Day Treks to Explore in Chaffee County

The Avalanche trailhead is a major access point for the Colorado Trail near Buena Vista. This is a popular trailhead for winter recreationists and provides ample parking for the many snowmobilers who converge on the area. Weekend snowmobilers love to ride to the top of Cottonwood Pass and over the Continental Divide to Taylor Park.

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.

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.

This is a popular trail, which is gentle, family friendly grade with amazing destinations. The natural water slide area at Denny Creek is a must visit for families. The trails offer an authentic mountain experience as they go through the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness.

The Buffalo Peaks are the twin southern sentinels of the relaxed Mosquito Mountains. It is one of the iconic location for a trek and also there are so many things to see and do. For climbers the Buffalo Peaks offer a chance to get away from crowds and enjoy something distinctive yet different. Both mountains are but a healthy hike but the hike is memorable.

Emerald Peak is a high mountain summit of the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch. The 13,911-foot thirteener is located in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness of San Isabel National Forest, 14.7 miles west-northwest of the Town of Buena Vista in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. It is a good trekking destination and also it offers beautiful views and also it offers so many adventure options too.

Garfield Peak is a high mountain summit of the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 13,787-foot thirteener is located 5.6 miles south-southwest of Independence Pass, Colorado, United States, on the Continental Divide separating San Isabel National Forest and Chaffee County from White River National Forest and Pitkin County.Garfield Peak was named in honor of James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States.

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.

Huron Peak is a high mountain summit of the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. IT is separated from them by deep cols, resulting in a moderately high topographic prominence. The main route to the summit of Huron Peak begins from the Clear Creek / South Winfield Trailhead. To reach the trailhead, drive westbound on Chaffee County 390 off U.S. Highway 24.

La Plata Peak is another big and bulky Sawatch mountain, similar in configuration to Colorado's highest two mountains Mt. Elbert and Mt Massive. The nearby ghost towns of Winfield and Hamilton were prominent silver mining towns in the early part of the 20th century. Northwest Ridge and the Ellingwood Ridge are the prominent climbing routes in this area.

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.

The Missouri Gulch trail is located in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area of the San Isabel National Forest between Leadville and Buena Vista, Colorado. It begins at a large parking area south of Clear Creek Road (Chaffee County Road 390) across the road from the old town of Vicksburg. This trail ends at its junction with the Pine Creek Trail. The first 3.5 miles are strenuous, with an elevation gain of 3,500 feet.

Missouri Mountain is a high mountain summit in the Collegiate Peaks of the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. This mountain offers one of the few opportunities for any technical climbing in the Sawatch Range. It is possible to climb Belford, Oxford and Missouri together, but it makes for a long, hard day. This is a popular trail for camping, hiking, and snowshoeing, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.

Monarch Mountain is one of the oldest Colorado ski areas, which opened in 1939. It’s located in the central Rocky Mountains near Salida and receives over 350 inches of snow each year. The resort is situated on Monarch Pass at the continental divide. It has 54 trails, two terrain parks, and an extreme terrain area called Mirkwood. The Monarch Mountain Lodge is located three miles (5 km) east of the ski area in the town of Garfield, Colorado.

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 Belford is a high mountain summit of the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 14,203-foot fourteener is located in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness of San Isabel National Forest, 15.0 miles northwest by west of the Town of Buena Vista in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. A good trekking destination and also it offers breath taking views.

Mount Columbia is a high mountain summit of the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 14,077-foot fourteener is located in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness of San Isabel National Forest, 9.9 milesnorthwest by west of the Town of Buena Vista in Chaffee County, Colorado. This trail is great for birding, horseback riding, and mountain biking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring.

Mt. Harvard is the third highest peak in Colorado and only one of three 14ers within Colorado that rises above 14,400 feet. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 8 h 49 min to complete. This is a very popular area for camping, fishing, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

Mount Hope is a high mountain summit of the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch. The 13,939-foot thirteener is located in San Isabel National Forest, 20.1 miles northwest of the Town of Buena Vista in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. It is one of the iconic location for a trek and also there are so many things to see and do.