Steve's Original Salida Walking Tours

08/17/2026

Send a message to learn more

08/14/2026

Lots of first-timers to Salida on a crazy busy night. Downtown was like old Salida. Hopping & loud!

08/13/2026

First time in the Rockies... on the Ghost & Murder Tour.

08/10/2026

Blue Mesa, before Reservoir • Undated!

08/09/2026

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮

For nearly a decade, I've been researching and sharing the stories that make Salida unique. This week, I'm excited to launch something completely new.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 is a 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 that lets you discover the stories behind historic downtown Salida as you explore.

Here's how it works.

As you walk downtown, you'll begin spotting Salida Story Trail markers in the windows of participating businesses. Scan the QR code with your phone and you'll instantly hear the story behind that location.

There are no tickets, no app to download, and no set route to follow. Simply explore downtown and discover the stories waiting around every corner.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.

The Salida Story Trail was created in partnership with downtown businesses for a simple reason: to encourage visitors to slow down, look into a few more storefronts, and spend a little more time exploring the heart of Salida.

New Story Trail locations will be added regularly, so there will always be another story to discover.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲, and I hope it becomes one more reason to spend an afternoon wandering historic downtown Salida.

The first Story Trail locations are now live. Keep an eye out for the markers as you explore downtown.

👉 https://www.salidawalkingtours.com/salida-story-trail

08/09/2026

I love all my guests, but some groups stand out because of how spooked they get. This group - got quieter with every story. And jumpier. Such fun. :)

08/07/2026

Fun, shenanigans, and spirits with this lively group on the Salida Ghost & Murder Tour.

08/06/2026

08/06/2026

To the men over 50—and to everyone who loves one:

𝗦𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟱𝟬.

Think about that.

Not cancer. Not accidents. Su***de.

And it's rising. In rural communities like Salida, the problem is even worse.

Yesterday, over happy hour with a buddy, we talked about this trend. The causes are many, but one thing is painfully clear:

People need to know they matter.

Reach out to a man over 50, especially if he's single. Tell him his life has meaning. Tell him he's important to you. Tell him you'll miss him if he's gone.

When I retired from my previous career in 2014, I was broken in ways I couldn't recognize at the time. A huge percentage of people in my former profession die by su***de. It became so common that people almost stopped talking about it.

Like many of my peers, I had a plan.

One last road trip.

Then I was going to end my life.

Only one unexpected phone call changed that.

A friend heard something in my words—something in my voice—and asked, "You're planning on taking your life, aren't you?"

I didn't answer.

She didn't argue. She didn't tell me I had so much to live for. She didn't try to talk me out of it.

She simply said:

"Steve, if you're going to commit su***de, I can't stop you. No one can. But I hope you won't. I love you, and I'll miss you greatly. You've impacted my life in ways you don't even understand."

That was it.

Then we kept talking.

Somewhere during that conversation, I drifted away from my ending and toward a new beginning.

I've never forgotten those words.

This isn't a rare tragedy anymore.

𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰.

𝗦𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟱𝟬.

Call a man over 50 today, especially if he is single—even if he seems fine.

Tell him he matters.

Tell him his life has value.

Tell him you'll miss him if he isn't here anymore.

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲.

08/04/2026

Yesterday was a special day for Steve's Original Salida Walking Tours!

It was my honor to lead members of the Salida City Council and City staff on a private **Wild West History Tour** through downtown Salida. Together we explored the fascinating stories, colorful characters, and surprising events that helped shape the town we all love today.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us:
Mayor Justin Critelli, Mayor Pro Tem Wayles Martin, Councilmembers Shelley Schreiner, Joey Rovinsky, Suzanne Fontana, and Alisa Pappenfort, Treasurer Ben Gilling, City Administrator Christy Doon, Finance Director Taylor Webb, City Clerk Kristi Keller, Community Development Director Bill Almquist, Senior Planner Kristen Hodges, and Strategic Initiatives Manager Sara Law.

After the tour, Sara shared this wonderful note:

> "I loved the tour and feel like I learned so much."

Comments like that are exactly why I do what I do.

History isn't just about the past—it's about understanding the people, places, and events that made Salida the remarkable community it is today.

Thank you to the City of Salida, Colorado for spending the afternoon discovering the stories hidden in plain sight. I hope you'll come back again!

If you've never taken one of my walking tours, there's always another story waiting around the next corner.