Buena Vista Snowmobile Trails

Snowmobilers love the miles of groomed and un-groomed trails that span the Upper Arkansas River Valley. Located inside the over one million acres of San Isabel National Forest, the trails are surrounded by six of Colorado's "Fourteeners," mountains over 14,000 feet high. Wildlife abounds, so keep your eyes peeled for black bear, bighorn sheep, elk, and, of course, mountain lions. Travel the Cottonwood Pass Trail and stop at the Continental Divide, the line that spans the continent dividing the waters that run west into the Pacific from the waters that flow east to the Atlantic. When you're tired of trail riding, find a place to stay in one of the many nearby mountain towns, such as Buena Vista, St. Elmo or Monarch.

Here's how to get started:

• The Cottonwood Pass Trail is about 8 miles west of Buena Vista, off Cottonwood Pass Road (CR 306). Stop at the parking lot and hop on the trail, which connects with several other trails in the system. If it's snowy, you may have to park 3 miles west of the first trailhead at the Denny Creek trailhead.
• To access the Cottonwood Lake Trail, drive down Forest Service Road 306 south of Rainbow Lake until you get to Forest Service Road 344. Take a left on 344 and park at the trailhead one mile down the road at Cottonwood Lake.
• You can hop on the Taylor Park Reservoir Trail by heading up Colorado Road 135 to Almont and then taking Forest Service Road 742 to the reservoir. Hop on the trail at the Taylor Park Trading Post in Taylor Park.
• The St. Elmo Trail, located 25 miles southwest of Buena Vista, can be reached by taking Highway 285 south of Buena Vista to CR 162. Traveling seven miles west on CR 162 will take you to the trailhead's parking lot, in the old mining town of St. Elmo.

More Activities & Information

Buena Vista Area - includes Johnson Village, Nathrop & St. Elmo
Gunnison - includes Almont, Blue Mesa Lake, Ohio City, Parlin, Sargents, Sapinero, Taylor Park & Waunita Hot Springs
Salida - includes Howard, Monarch & Poncha Springs