Southern Arkansas Valley

Home to the charming towns of Salida and Buena Vista, the Southern Arkansas Valley hides a few pleasant paddleboard lakes in its surrounding mountains.  The lakes in this area are fairly small, but they can provide great half-day on the water to complement many of the other activities in this fun area of Colorado.  Two of the lakes--Cottonwood and O'Haver--are featured below.

Cottonwood Lake

Cottonwood Lake

Cottonwood Lake is about 7 miles west of Buena Vista on County Road 306 (Cottonwood Pass Road), then 3 miles south on County Road 344.  There is a national forest picnic area (fee site) on the east side of the lake, and a free boat launch for non-motorized crafts on the west side.  There is also a campground just beyond the lake.   

Vicinity Map

    Cottonwood Lake [key]   

    Scenery: 5

    Shoreline Interest: 2
    Use: Moderate
    Fee: None for boat launch
    Access: Gravel
    Full elev = 9552; natural
    Rec. info 
    Weather 

    O'Haver Lake [key] 
    Scenery: 4
    Shoreline Interest: 1
    Use: Mod-high
    Fee: $7/veh day use
    Access: Gravel
    Full elev = 9180; natural
    Rec. info 
    Weather 

Cottonwood Lake sits in a very scenic mountain valley with multiple photogenic vistas.  Its eastern end is boxed in by white, cliffy slopes and the western end opens out toward the continental divide.  The small lake is protected enough that it doesn't collect excessive wind.  The upwind side of the lake will usually harbor calm waters if a modest breeze picks up.  Even though it's fairly small, the lake can offer hours of enjoyable floating time.   

Cottonwood Lake

Cottonwood Lake

Nearby Diversions

Hiking:  Cottonwood Lake is nestled between Mt. Princeton and Mt. Yale--two fourteeners of the Collegiate Peaks.  Of the two, Yale's  standard route trailhead at Denny Creek is the closest to the lake, 5 miles further west up Cottonwood Pass Road.  This route requires 4000 feet of elevation gain.  The Mt. Yale trail can also see a lot of traffic and parking may be difficult.  If attempting this hike, be aware of the weather and altitude risks, carefully assess both physical and environmental conditions, and start early!  

Hiking - Ptarmigan Lake:  Ptarmigan Lake is a scenic alpine lake that requires far less energy than an ascent of Mt. Yale.  The Ptarmigan Lake Trail is 3 miles one-way and starts from the Cottonwood Pass Road 14 miles west of Buena Vista.  This hike is also fairly popular, so a reasonably early start will help avoid parking difficulties.  

Cottonwood Lake

Cottonwood Lake reflection

Mountain Biking - Colorado Trail:  A great segment of the Colorado Trail traverses 9 miles along the lower slopes of the Sawatch Range between the Cottonwood and Chalk Creek Valleys.  The trail can be done as an out-and-back from either end or, if you have willing driver, as a shuttle from the Mt. Princeton Road to South Cottonwood Creek.  The shuttle option would allow your driver to chill out on Cottonwood Lake while you finish your ride and spin up to the lake.   

Hot Springs:  If you're here enjoying some off-season solitude in the cooler off-season, the nearby Cottonwood Hot Springs might be an inviting post-paddle stop.  There are also hot spring the next valley south at Mt Princeton.   

O'Haver Lake from above

O'Haver Lake

O'Haver Lake is about 5 miles south of Poncha Springs on U.S. 285, then 2 miles west on Forest Road 200 (Marshall Pass Road), then another 1.5 Miles north on Forest Road 202.  O'Haver lake is a US forest service fee area.  A campground wraps around the south and east sides of the lake, but there are day use parking areas as well.  Many of the campsites are very close to the water and can be reserved online.

O'Haver Lake pine forest

O'Haver Lake

O'Haver Lake is smaller and less mountainous than Cottonwood but is another great place to spend a half day, especially if camping near the lake.  The pine forests that surround the lake give a nice balance of sun and shade, and the water offers views toward the Sangre de Christo mountains and the eastern face of Mt. Ouray.  The small size of the lake helps protect it from wind and waves.   

Mt. Ouray behind O'Haver Lake

Nearby Diversions

Mountain Biking - Monarch Crest:  The full loop of the legendary Monarch Crest Trail encircles O'Haver Lake.  Starvation Creek, South Fooses Creek , and Greens Creek are alternate descents from the Crest that offer a change of scenery from the traditional route.  The Crest is commonly done with a shuttle based in Poncha Springs.  Despite the large net drop in elevation, the classic Monarch Crest ride is a big undertaking.  Short to moderate climbs are interspersed throughout the ride--including lots of up-and-down on the Rainbow Trail segment--and most of the elevation loss is concentrated in three locations (descent to Marshall Pass, descent off the Continental Divide and descent to U.S. 285).

The Monarch Crest

Hiking - Mt. Ouray:  Massive Mt. Ouray, which looms to the northwest of O'Haver Lake, is hike-able from Marshall Pass Road.  Ouray is about 30 feet short of the 14,000 foot countour, so it sees far fewer visitors than the 14ers of the valley.  The peak can be ascended by following the ridgeline north of Marshall Pass.  A longer but more scenic route follows the Grays Creek drainage into the Devil's Armchair, then up the southeast ridge to the summit.  The informal trailhead for Grays Creek is about 4 miles further up the Marshall Pass Road from the O'Haver Lake junction.  As with any high mountain peak, be aware of the weather and altitude risks, carefully assess both physical and environmental conditions before attempting, and start early!

Mountain Biking - Salida:  The foothills above Salida house a great network of mountain bike loops that are accessible right from town.  The most popular ways to ride these are to spin up Spiral Drive to Tenderfoot Mountain (the big "S" above town), or to follow County Road 175 to the North Backbone Trailhead and traverse on North Backbone back to the Tenderfoot Mountain area.  There are many trails and countless ways to link them together.

Southern Sawatch Range

The Rest of the Southern Arkansas Valley

Other Lakes in this area can be accessed by 4WD roads in the Chalk Creek and South Arkansas drainages.  But we haven't yet visited these places and can't comment on their qualities or ease of access.  If you are exploring the area in a jeep, bring a paddleboard along!  You might discover a gem and have it all to yourself!

Support local businesses!

From the high summits of the Sawatch to the rocky whitewater of Brown's Canyon, the southern Arkansas Valley hold countless opportunities for adventure within it's 7000 foot span of elevation.  A half-day of stand-up paddling complements any of these activity choices, whether hiking, biking, climbing, rafting, or just camping.  The towns of Buena Vista and Salida are great mountain towns to spend a few hours, or a full day!  Check the local event calendars and take some time support the local businesses, distilleries, restaurants, stores, distilleries, breweries, bike shops, and distilleries.  Have fun, get creative with your day, and stay safe on and off the water!