Hiking the Collegiate Peaks Near Buena Vista

Fourteeners on the skyline

Buena Vista sits below the Collegiate Peaks — Mount Yale, Mount Princeton, Mount Harvard and Mount Columbia among them. Many locals climb at least one 14,000-foot peak every summer.

Start early, bring layers and turn around if afternoon storms build — weather moves in fast at high elevation.

Browns Canyon National Monument

Between Buena Vista and Salida, Browns Canyon National Monument protects rugged granite country along the Arkansas River. It's known for rafting, and also has quieter hiking routes.

Trails close to town

You don't need to drive far. Trail networks just east of the river in Buena Vista are popular for hiking, trail running and mountain biking, with views back toward the peaks.