Buena Vista Overview
Skyscraping mountains, the most impressive being the Collegiate Peaks, ring Buena Vista (pronounced byoo-na vis-ta by locals). A small mining town–turned–casual resort community, Buena Vista’s main street is lined with Wild West–style historic buildings.
Buena Vista is considered by many to be the capital of whitewater rafting for the United States, with the Arkansas River adjacent to town. A new expansion to the South Main River Park makes it the longest whitewater park of its kind in the country.
Historic mining and railroading sites allow for fascinating and beautiful excursions by four-wheeling, mountain biking or hiking. St. Elmo, one of Colorado’s best-preserved ghost towns is only 30 minutes from town, and you can stop on the way to fish, hike or swim in the Mount Princeton Hot Springs.