Salida Golf Trip Planning Guide
Salida is a funky arts-and-adventure town on the Arkansas River with a surprisingly vibrant downtown, quality golf for pennies, and some of the best whitewater rafting in the country. The creative class has revitalized this old railroad town with breweries, galleries, and restaurants that punch above the weight class.
3 courses · 4 restaurants · 4 bars · 4 activities
Quick Facts
Summer
COS (135 min drive)
$25–$55
$300/night
3 of 3
~$283/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Salida. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Collegiate Peaks Golf Course — mountain, $35–$55 · 4.4★
Well-maintained course in Buena Vista with 14,000-foot peaks as the backdrop; the ball absolutely flies at altitude
The Fritz — farm to-table, $$
Salida's best restaurant; seasonal Colorado cuisine in a hip downtown space with craft cocktails
Benson's Tavern — dive · Open late
The late-night spot on F Street; shuffleboard, cheap beer, and locals who know your name by round two
Day 2
Salida Golf Club — mountain, $30–$50 · 4.1★
Charming mountain course at 7,000 feet with stunning Collegiate Peaks views; incredible value
Arkansas River Whitewater Rafting — half day, $55–$110/pp
Browns Canyon National Monument has world-class Class III-IV rapids; the signature Salida experience
Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub — brewpub, $$
Big downtown brewpub with wood-fired pizza, house beers, and a massive patio; perfect for groups
Soulcraft Brewing — brewpub
Craft brewery in a converted garage with creative beers and a dog-friendly patio
Day 3
Mt. Massive Golf Course — mountain, $25–$42 · 4.1★
The highest course on the Arkansas River at 10,200 feet near Leadville; balls fly 15% farther
Mt. Princeton Hot Springs — 2-3 hours, $25–$35/pp
Natural hot springs pools with creekside soaking at the base of Mt. Princeton; the ultimate post-golf recovery
Amicas Pizza — italian, $$
Beloved community pizza joint with great salads and microbrews; always lively
Elevation Beer Co. — brewpub
Excellent craft brewery with strong Belgian-style beers; taproom in Poncha Springs with food trucks
Course-by-Course Guide
Salida has 3 courses worth playing. 3 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Salida Golf Club
BudgetCharming mountain course at 7,000 feet with stunning Collegiate Peaks views; incredible value
Collegiate Peaks Golf Course
SolidWell-maintained course in Buena Vista with 14,000-foot peaks as the backdrop; the ball absolutely flies at altitude
Mt. Massive Golf Course
BudgetThe highest course on the Arkansas River at 10,200 feet near Leadville; balls fly 15% farther
Where to Stay
Salida has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $300/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.
$350–$900/night
Sleeps 10–16 · Downtown Salida / F Street area
$300–$800/night
Sleeps 8–14 · Arkansas River corridor / Poncha Springs
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
The Fritz
$$Salida's best restaurant; seasonal Colorado cuisine in a hip downtown space with craft cocktails
Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub
$$Big downtown brewpub with wood-fired pizza, house beers, and a massive patio; perfect for groups
Amicas Pizza
$$Beloved community pizza joint with great salads and microbrews; always lively
Currents Steak & Seafood
$$$Classic downtown Salida favorite with excellent steaks and a summer patio on F Street
Nightlife
4 bars curated for groups. 2 stay open past midnight.
Benson's Tavern
Late NightThe late-night spot on F Street; shuffleboard, cheap beer, and locals who know your name by round two
Soulcraft Brewing
Craft brewery in a converted garage with creative beers and a dog-friendly patio
Elevation Beer Co.
Excellent craft brewery with strong Belgian-style beers; taproom in Poncha Springs with food trucks
The Vic Tavern
Late NightHistoric bar in a renovated theater; live music, good cocktails, and a great patio scene
Activities Beyond Golf
4 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Arkansas River Whitewater Rafting
Browns Canyon National Monument has world-class Class III-IV rapids; the signature Salida experience
Mt. Princeton Hot Springs
Natural hot springs pools with creekside soaking at the base of Mt. Princeton; the ultimate post-golf recovery
Arkansas River Fly Fishing
Gold Medal trout water right through town; guided wade and float trips available
Monarch Mountain Biking
Excellent singletrack trails up Monarch Pass; rentals available in town
Getting There
Fly into Colorado Springs Airport (COS) — it's a 135-minute drive to Salida. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Salida Shuttle). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.