Located 15 min from Downtown Buena Vista

Day Passes:

Friday - Sunday $45 for adults. $35 for kids/ seniors

Has several pools of varying temperatures, creekside natural pools in the river, infinity pool, waterslide, spa, and historic bath house.

Located about 30 min from Buena Vista, twin lakes has a designated campground and kayaks/ SUPs are available to rent to explore the lake. Year round fishing is also available (a day license is $18 for adults and free for children under 18). Dispersed camping is offered further along the road where the trailhead to several 14ers are.

There are hundreds of hiking trails nearby. If you are ambitious, there are several 14ers in the Collegiate Peaks within a 30 min drive including Mt. Princeton, Mt. Harvard, Mt. Yale, Mt. Belford, Mt. Oxford, and Mt. Missouri. There are also several shorter and family friendly options in the area. You can use All Trails or blogs to look for options!

If you choose to come out early or stay later, there is great camping nearby. Some sites are considered disperse camping and are first come first serve with no electric, water, or toilets while others are established campgrounds that require a reservation far in advance. If you would like to stay in an established site, we recommend planning at least 1 year to 6 months out as they can book up far in advance.

White water rafting is a popular summer activity in Buena Vista. Some companies that offer tours include River Runners, Wilderness Aware, AVA Rafting and Zipline, and KODI Rafting.

There is great trout fishing and fly fishing in Buena Vista. You must obtain a fishing license and you can choose to rent gear and go out on your own or hire a guide. Check local regulations and permits if you are interested.

There are 2 locations, one near Main Street and one near South Main Street. Great place to try local craft beer. The Main Street location has pizza and tacos, while the South Main Street location has burgers and sandwiches

Local bourbon and whiskey distillery that offers tours and tastings

St. Elmo Ghost Town is located about 40 min from Buena Vista in the Collegiate Peaks. The General Store is open during the summer.