Affordable Festivities: Discover Budget-Friendly Holiday Adventures in Chaffee County with Carly Winchell

The festive season often challenges a family’s budget.

While wandering along the local Main Street to admire the holiday lights and adornments can uplift your festive spirit, other choices are available. For those on a budget looking for enjoyable winter pastimes, Buena Vista (BV) and the neighboring county offer a range of alternatives.

Hiking Paths

Local hiking paths can be just as engaging to traverse in winter as in summer. Hikers should ensure they are dressed appropriately for the conditions and carry ample hydration.

The Barbara Whipple Trail offers an easy 2.1-mile loop. The singletrack trail can be accessed from the BV River Park. Hikers may cross the bridge and ascend into BLM (Bureau of Land Management) territory.

There are also paths along the river in town for those seeking an easy, near-home stroll.

The Walton Loop encircles the Amy Lynch Memorial Disc Golf Course and has recently been improved to be accessible for everyone. The new Tater Tots trail is a beginner-friendly singletrack around Amy Lynch and the Walton Loop.

The French Fries trail offers a short, beginner-friendly single track around the pump track and dog park.

BV Recreation features several maps on its website.

Pump Track in Buena Vista

The pump track in town is adored by kids of all ages. It features different pathways suited for various skill levels.

Older children (and daring younger ones) can tackle the steeper inclines in the middle of the track while a flatter route is available for those who are still mastering their skills.

The pump track is situated just east of the Community Center (715 East Main Street).

BV Dog Park

Ensuring fun for the furry family members is equally essential during the festive season. BV’s off-leash dog park is conveniently located near the River Park and Pump Track.

The park consists of two sections. One is meant for small breeds, and the other is for larger dogs. Pet owners should be considerate and utilize the waste stations to clean up after their pets.

As this is a public dog park, dogs that are not friendly or social with other canines should seek fun in alternative activities. Walking on a leash along one of the numerous trails in and around town could be a great option.

A Journey Down Tunnel Road

The Midland Tunnels and Elephant Rock are sought-after spots. Visitors can walk, cycle, or drive to both locations, positioned just north of BV.

County Road 371 commences paved in town but transitions to gravel shortly before the tunnels. This series of tunnels was utilized by the Colorado Midland railway from the 1880s until its termination.

Just north of the tunnels lies Elephant Rock Campground. Named after a sizable, elephant-shaped rock formation, there are trails along the river for those who find it too cold to camp overnight.

Elephant Rock and the adjacent Bob’s Rock are favored sites for rock climbing and bouldering.

Travelers should remain alert that the conditions of unpaved roads can differ according to the weather.

Disc Golf

Disc Golf is a game with a relatively low initial investment. A beginner set of discs can be obtained for as little as $20. Local retailers like CKS River Supply and Little Daisy Liquor offer individual discs for sale.

The valley offers a variety of distinct courses. The CMC (Colorado Mountain College) course (8 West 6th Street in Leadville) provides a distinctive route through lodgepole pines, although it may be excessively snowed in during the majority of the winter. The Amy Lynch Memorial Disc Golf Course (717 East Main in BV) typically remains fairly free of snow.

Situated in BV River Park, the disc golf course boasts a complete 18 holes amid piñon pines. The course is suitable for players of varying skill levels, and there is a practice basket available at the entrance.

It largely remains flat, with some differences in elevation between holes. Disc retrieval may require caution due to the presence of small cacti.

In cases where not all family members wish to participate in disc golf, various accessible trails in the vicinity are ideal for a brief stroll.

The 18-hole Heart of the Rockies Disc Golf (just off Highway 50 along County Road 104 in Salida) and the Poncha Springs Disc Golf (5334 County Road 115, Poncha Springs) courses are a short distance drive from BV.

Playing any of the four courses in the valley incurs no charge for the public, aside from the cost of a few discs.

Sledding, Snowmen, and More

While deep snow may not always be present in BV, ascending to higher elevations can swiftly alter the scenery. Other fashionable winter pursuits encompass snowman creation, snowshoeing, sledding, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and ice skating.

Cottonwood Lake, Clear Creek Reservoir, Twin Lakes, and Wright Lake are all potential sites for enjoying winter activities.

A favored sledding hill can be found on the way to Cottonwood Lake. The sledding area is positioned about half a mile down the road after turning off of County Road 306 onto County Road 343. Dutch Henry Hill, south of Leadville along Highway 24, serves as another popular sledding location in the valley.

While sledding is feasible anywhere with adequate snow and a steep incline, sledders should always remain vigilant for possible dangers (lakes, rivers, trees, cliffs, boulders, or drop-offs, etc.).

All visitors should investigate and stay informed about road and weather conditions. When ice skating or ice fishing, it’s crucial to check the thickness of the ice.

Salida at Franz Lake

Franz Lake is a favored quiet recreation area on the outskirts of Salida. However, the nature of the recreation can vary greatly depending on the temperatures. When the lake isn’t frozen, winter fishing remains an option.

If the area has experienced several weeks of cold temperatures, the lake might be solid enough for ice-skating. Nonetheless, this option necessitates consulting with authorities to ensure the ice is secure.

Additional details can be found at BuenaVistaRec.com regarding local parks, trails, facilities, and more.