Cultural History

 Buena Vista is located in central Colorado roughly midway between Salida and Leadville in the Upper Arkansas River Valley at an elevation of 7,965 feet. The name "Buena Vista", Spanish for "Good View", can often be heard pronounced locally as "Byoo-na Vista". Alternate pronunciations include "Bwenna Veesta" (Spanish pronunciation) and simply "Biewnie." Many residents simply refer to the town as "BV".

Home Base for day trips

Aspen via Independence Pass    (90 mins)
Taylor Park via Cottonwood Pass  (90 mins)
Crested Butte via Cottonwood Pass  (2 1/2 hrs)
Great Sand Dunes National Park/Colorado Gators Reptile Farm  (2 hrs)
Royal Gorge Bridge & Park  1 1/2 hrs)
Colorado Springs  (2 hrs)
    **Garden of the Gods
    **Cave of the Winds
Cripple Creek  (2 hrs)
Florissant  (1 1/4 hrs)
    **Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center
    **Florissant Fossil Beds
Breckenridge  (1 1/4 hrs)
Glenwood Springs  (2 1/4 hrs)
Denver/Central City & Blackhawk  (2 - 2 1/4 hrs)
Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park via Monarch Pass  (2 1/2 hrs)
South Park City-Fairplay  (40 mins)
Monarch Ski Resort  (50 mins)
Cooper Ski Resort  ( 1 1/4 hrs)
Copper/Vail Ski Resorts  (1 1/4 - 1 3/4 hrs)

The Buena Vista area offers a wide range of year-round activities available to you during your stay, including: Hiking / Biking, Mountain Climbing, Hunting / Fishing, Whitewater Rafting / Kayaking, Horseback Riding, Art Galleries, Ghost Towns, Cross-Country / Downhill Skiing, Snowmobiling / 4 Wheeling, Golfing, Wildlife Viewing / Photography. We also have seasonal activities sponsored by our local chamber of commerce and other organizations, such as: Burro races, Rodeo, Car Show, Art in the Park, Color run, etc....

A Summer and Winter Destination