Now This is Colorado

10/10/2026

Hometown Highlight our very own... 🎿🏔️ Monarch Mountain

The Selling Snow Podcast just dropped a new episode featuring Chris Haggerty, General Manager of Monarch Mountain, and it is one worth listening to. Chris breaks down how Monarch pulled off adding nearly 400 acres of new terrain through the No Name Basin expansion without raising season pass prices to fund it, and without losing the soul of the mountain in the process. There is also a genuinely compelling conversation about fixed-grip chairlifts and why something that might look like outdated infrastructure is actually one of Monarch's biggest competitive advantages. It is a rare, honest look at what it means to grow a ski area without sacrificing what made people love it in the first place. Link to listen in: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5z8gQQj1jZJA1Bfo9ujLkB?si=-WE-VRlvQbeHQmTf4EbL8g&nd=1&dlsi=53ff510ac80f4a02

Monarch Mountain sits just 20 miles west of Salida at 11,312 feet and consistently receives plenty of 100% natural snowfall every season.
No snowmaking. No crowds. No resort pricing.

Just pure Rocky Mountain powder and the kind of mountain experience that feels increasingly rare. With the No Name Basin expansion now adding nearly 400 acres to an already remarkable mountain, this winter is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons in Monarch's history. If you have never skied Monarch, this is the winter to change that. 🎿

📍 Monarch Mountain, 22150 US-50, Salida, Colorado
📸 Follow for snow reports and updates
💾 Save this and send it to whoever you are planning your Monarch ski days with this winter.

10/09/2026

Fall is putting on a show in Chaffee County this weekend. 🍂🎨 From vibrant golden aspens and breathtaking mountain views to local art worth slowing down for, it’s the perfect time to soak up the season and experience the best of our mountain towns.

The 33rd Annual Salida ArtWalk is happening October 8 through 11 right in the heart of Colorado’s largest National Historic District and the state’s first Creative District. Salida Creative District Art on the Rocks, gallery receptions, live demonstrations, Mini Masters, a Parade for the Arts, live music, performances, culinary tastings, and more, all spread across one of the most stunning small towns in the Rockies. Presented by Salida Arts and Culture in partnership with Salida Council for the Arts. City of Salida Arts & Culture

If you have been looking for a reason to make the drive to Salida this fall, this is it.

And while you are in the valley, the fall colors are nearing peak and the drives right now are absolutely stunning. Take Highway 50 west from Salida up to the top of Monarch Pass and stop at Monarch at the Crest for a tram ride up to 12,012 feet. Head north from Buena Vista up County Road 306 to Cottonwood Lake and continue to the top of Cottonwood Pass at 12,126 feet where the red and orange foliage is unreal right now. Or soak in the hot springs and then cruise up Chalk Creek Canyon to the historic ghost town of St. Elmo, draped in one of the largest aspen groves in the entire county. 🍁🏔️

📍 Salida and Chaffee County, Colorado
💾 Save this and send it to whoever you are spending your fall weekend with. Photos by Nik & Angel Photography , 50West Productions and Frankie Spontelli

10/07/2026

Chaffee County is not just an adventure destination… (keep reading) ➡️
It is a wellness destination. And these two spots in Buena Vista prove it. 🧘🔥🏔️

Hridaya Yoga in the heart of downtown Buena Vista is a heart-centered sanctuary offering weekly yoga and movement classes, infrared heated and non-heated options, sound healing, massage, Reiki, and even yoga teacher trainings. Hridaya means sacred heart in Sanskrit and from the moment you walk in that is exactly what this place feels like. Drop in for a single class or build a full wellness retreat around your stay. 🧘

After your practice, TerraForm Sauna on South Main is waiting. Wood-fired sauna, a quick dip in the Arkansas River, organic cotton towels, and hot tea on arrival. Contrast therapy, heat, fresh mountain air, and the sound of moving water. The kind of recovery that earns a good night of sleep. 🔥

And the wellness options do not stop there. Across the county you will find CrossFit gyms, a dual-purpose strength training and climbing gym, multiple yoga studios, Pilates, and the incredible Salida Aquatic Center for lap swimming and fitness. 

Sore from a big day on the trails? The hot springs at Mount Princeton, Charlotte or Cottonwood will take care of the rest.
Chaffee County takes care of the whole person. Adventure and recovery. Both live here… 🏔️
📍 Buena Vista and Salida, Colorado | Hridaya Yoga | TerraForm Sauna
💾 Save this and send it to whoever needs a wellness weekend in the mountains.

10/06/2026

Early Autumn in and around Buena Vista, Colorado 🍂
SAVE THIS POST FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP TO BUENA VISTA

After spending the past ten years chasing fall colors across Colorado, Chaffee County, home to Buena Vista, Poncha Springs and Salida, was always somewhere I passed through without ever taking the time to truly explore.

This fall, Now This is Colorado invited me out to experience the area, and I can confidently say it’s one of the most underrated fall destinations in Colorado.

Best Locations
📍 Cottonwood Pass
📍 Monarch Pass
📍 Cottonwood Lake
📍 St. Elmo
📍 Chalk Cliffs
📍 Charlotte Hot Springs
📍 Cottonwood Hot Springs

Restaurants & Cafes to check out:
☕️ Veya Coffee Bar
☕️ Cool River Buena Vista
🍕 Cravebv
🥪 Sorelle Delicatessen
🌮 La Sirena

Paddle board rentals from CKS River Supply

10/05/2026

Hard to beat a fall drive up Monarch Pass...

Amazing capture by Lars Leber Photography
📍 Chaffee County, Colorado

Monarch Pass, Colorado
Earlier today, I got back home from a few photo workshops in the San Juan Mountains. My 8 year old daughter wanted to go on a sunset drive so we did. We captured some rainbow photos near Poncha Springs and then worked our way up Monarch Pass. :)

10/02/2026

Chasing gold in Chaffee County with Now This is Colorado 🍂

From high mountain passes to historic mining towns, there’s so much to explore throughout Buena Vista, Salida, and Poncha Springs.

A truly under rated part of Colorado and the perfect place to experience Colorado’s best season!

10/01/2026

Mapping out your fall trip to Buena Vista? We have got a few spots worth adding to the list. Keep scrolling. 🍂🏔️

Take a peaceful stroll along the Arkansas River and let the fall foliage do the talking. Fresh pastries from 🍰 to fuel the walk. A coffee or baked goodie from Cool River Cafe & Patisserie on the way through town. Brunch and mimosas at Counter Culture BV because some mornings deserve that.

Meet the goats and grab some handcrafted cheese at Artisan Cheese from Buena Vista, CO out on Highway 24. Wander through BV’s historic architecture and see how many original buildings you can spot from the 1800s. Sip small batch handcrafted spirits at in downtown BV. And end the evening with a cold b**r or craft cocktail at tumbleweedbv.

Fall in Buena Vista is something else. Come see it for yourself. 🍁

📍 Buena Vista, Colorado
💾 Save this for your fall trip and send it to whoever you are bringing along.

09/30/2026

Girls trip. Dogs in tow. Buena Vista delivered everything we did not even know we needed. 🐾🏔️

We camped at Turtle Rock Campground under stunningly dark skies, made camp tacos, and let the dogs run. From there the entire town opened up and it turns out Buena Vista might be the most dog-friendly mountain town in Colorado.

We hiked Lost Lake with the pups and it was worth every step. The dogs swam, we soaked in the views, and nobody wanted to leave. After the trail we found our way down to the Arkansas River for lunch in the sun and watched fly fishermen work the Gold Medal water while the dogs waded around doing exactly what they wanted.

Almost every shop had a water bowl out front and every patio welcomed the dogs with open arms. As a dog mom it’s so hard to find towns so dog friendly. If you have been wanting to plan a fall dog mom girls trip, put Buena Vista at the top of the list. It is got everything you will need to have the best time. 🐕🏔️

09/28/2026

He came from France. He had no idea how big this country actually is. 🚵🏔️ .vidal_ 
Romain Vidal is a French cyclist and cinematographer riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Canada to the US-Mexico border. After weeks on the road, he started to realize something about America that no map had prepared him for…

In his own words:
“I’m starting to realize everything in the United States is bigger. The roads are huge. They just seem to go on forever. In France, you can usually find a small town every 10 miles. Here it doesn’t really work like that. You can ride for hours and not pass through anything. When you’re traveling by bike, that changes quite a few things. Before you leave you have to ask yourself: do I have enough water? Do I have enough food? Where is the next bike shop? Sometimes the next city is three days away.

In Europe, a thousand feet of climbing almost feels normal. Here in Colorado, everything is on a different scale entirely. The forests. The plains. Even the days on the bike feel different. Sometimes the hardest part is not the riding. It is realizing just how far away everything is.” 

The scale of the American West has a way of humbling even the most seasoned cyclists. And somehow Chaffee County sits right in the middle of it all, wild and vast and exactly as rugged as it looks from the road. 🏔️
We are grateful Romain shared this perspective with us. Come see the scale for yourself.
🎥 .vidal_ 
📍 Salida, Colorado