Buena Vista

Sky-scraping mountains, the most impressive being the Collegiate Peaks, ring Buena Vista (pronounced byoo-na vis-ta by locals). The 14,000-foot, often snowcapped peaks were first summited by alumni from Yale, Princeton, Harvard, and Columbia, who named them for their respective alma maters. A small mining town-turned-resort community, Buena Vista's main street is lined with Wild West-style historic buildings. On U.S. 24, which bisects the town, there are inexpensive roadside motels. The town is also a hub for the white-water rafting industry that plies its trade on the popular Arkansas River, and a great central location for hiking, fishing, rafting, and horseback riding.

Word of Mouth

"One of my favorite sights after going over Kenosha Pass on CR 285 from Denver is seeing South Park spread out for miles in front of you. BEAUTIFUL mountains on both sides with grazing lands dotted with ranches and buffalo, cattle, also, elk, deer, etc. Also, real cowboys! The sun may be shinning brightly in one place and the skies in another spot look like the earth may come to an end! And it all may change within moments. The sight can take your breath away."—polaris