Our Community

Medical center serving the Upper Arkansas and San Luis Valleys

Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center is located in the beautiful Upper Arkansas Valley in central Colorado. The local towns of Salida and Buena Vista are known for their pleasant weather, vast recreation opportunities and vibrant arts scene. Both towns are located along the Arkansas River at elevations above 7,000 feet near the Continental Divide.

Our community has captured the imagination of national publications, like Smithsonian magazine--which named Salida one of the 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2018--and Outside Magazine, which selected Salida one of the 25 Best Towns of 2017.

Although you can reach the metropolitan areas of Denver or Colorado Springs in two to three hours, the diversity and abundance of resources available right here will likely keep those trips to a minimum.

Recreation

The Upper Arkansas Valley is an outdoor recreational dream. Since six of every seven acres is designated public lands, the Valley is the perfect location for hiking, biking, horseback riding, trail running, rock climbing, boating, fishing and hunting. In the winter there are designated snowmobile routes and backcountry skiing. Monarch Ski & Snowboard Area is just 18 miles west of Salida. The Arkansas River is known for its world-class trout fishery, kayaking, and whitewater rafting.

Arts

Salida and Buena Vista's arts communities have taken root in each city's downtown historic district. Visitors can watch as painters, potters, jewelers and sculptors work in their studio galleries. The Aspen Concert Series, Alpine Orchestra, and different family-oriented festivals make both towns statewide tourist destinations.

To learn more about our community, explore the links below.

Chaffee County

• Chaffee County Visitor's Bureau

City Information

• Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce
• City of Buena Vista
• Salida Chamber of Commerce
• City of Salida

News/Radio

• The Mountain Mail
• The Chaffee County Times
• KVRH - The Peak
• KHEN
• KSBV-The River Rat
• KRCC
• KCME-Classical Music
• KBVC-Eagle Country
• Hippie Radio
• K-Love

Salida Schools

• Crest Academy
• Horizons
• Longfellow Elementary
• Salida Early Childhood Center
• Salida Middle School
• Salida High School
• Chaffee County Montessori School

Buena Vista Schools

• Avery Parsons Elementary School
• Darren Patterson Christian Academy
• McGinnis Middle School
• Buena Vista High School

Real Estate

• First Colorado Land Office
• Keller Williams
• Pinon Real Estate
• Re/Max-Buena Vista and Salida