What happens when 15 bold, adventurous women descend on Salida while touring Colorado?

Lots of laughter, wide-open fun, and enough bonding to rival a summer camp for grown-ups. Which, for five days, is kind of what it was. On a recent NextTribe trip in the stomping grounds of travel manager Marcy Mitchell, we packed in white-water rafting, hiking, horseback riding, hot springs soaking, and a moonrise atop a sand dune to rival anything in the Sahara Desert.

We’re taking another group of adventurous women to Colorado in August 2025. Find out more about the trip here.

The trip started in classic NextTribe fashion—circled up in the garden of the retro-chic Silver Ridge Lodge for a lively meet and greet, complete with “How You Got Your Name” introductions. In no time, the group connected over where they were from, where they had traveled, and what they were about to experience on this Colorado adventure. We all felt the excitement, to be together amid such a stunning landscape, far from home and ready to build new bonds.

Once the hunger pangs set in, the conversations spilled over into our big black van as we loaded up for dinner at the Boathouse Cantina on the banks of the Arkansas River (which would figure very large in the next day’s activities). We dined on Baja-Mexican-style dishes while sharing family stories and photos of our beloved pets. Bellies full and connections forming, we headed out for a stroll along the river, only to be happily surprised by live music in Riverside Park. There’s nothing like dancing with the locals to get in the spirit of the town and the vibe of newfound friends.

Touring Colorado: Ready to Ride the Rapids

The morning arrived, and with coffee-fueled excitement, our first adventure: whitewater rafting in Browns Canyon. This wasn’t just a lazy river float. This was Class III whitewater, and we were about to go head-to-head with the rushing waters of the Arkansas River. The very same river we’d seen as we dined the night before.

Our guides were badass young women who were equally amazed by our age and zest for adventure. “I can’t wait to tell my mom about all of you and NextTribe travel!” more than one of them said. Yep, we were in the age range of their moms and even grandmoms. And we felt proud of how impressed they were with our daring.

After a quick lesson on how to paddle and stay safe (both in the boat and out—yikes!), we boarded our rafts. For a few of the women, there was some trepidation and a slight fear of the unknown. This was their first time whitewater rafting.

Once through the first few rapids, with names like Pinball and Big Drop, the fear dissipated with each crashing wave. So much so that Tianna from Las Vegas, who was shaking in her water shoes at the start, moved to the front of the raft. She rode on through like she was on a bucking bronco in a Texas rodeo. Even when we got stuck on a set of boulders, the laughter was louder than the guide yelling at us for what to do.

When not paddling through the rapids, we were gently floating between the rugged canyon walls, admiring the aptly named rock formations: a weed-smoking Willie Nelson, an Old Woman, and a Lab dog.

We rode the rapids and gently floated between rugged canyon walls, admiring rock formations with names like Willie Nelson.

Once off the river and with stomachs growling, we walked over to the Riverside Bar and Grill to relax and refuel. Its beach-bar vibe was perfect for eating locally sourced dishes like trout tacos while we continued to share travel stories and experiences. It was only our first day, but it already felt as if we were making new friends, just like that summer camp feeling of, “Hey, I like these people!”

Soaking It All In

The perfect way to cap off day one: We gathered again to immerse ourselves in Colorado’s gorgeous mountain scenery and waters. This time, it was the opposite of an adrenaline rush. What could be more soothing than soaking in a 104-degree infinity pool? That’s what we found ourselves doing at Mount Princeton Hot Springs. There, we soothed our souls and our muscles in the spring-fed mineral pool, with comfy built-in seating and therapy jets.

Hot springs and our own private bartender? The perfect way to cap off our day on the Arkansas River.

The laughter and stories flowed as easily as the river that morning. But this was more than just a soak; with our own private bartender and music DJ’d from our cell phones, it turned into a celebration of ourselves and our group.

Rocky Mountain High: Taking a Hike

The next morning, we were up early and everyone was caffeine fueled for the adventure ahead. We were ready to hit the trail to Browns Creek Falls—a local favorite that did not disappoint. The hike took us through sprawling meadows, past towering aspen groves, and over crystal-clear creeks.

As we spread out taking selfies and engaging in one-on-one conversations, I could hear bits and pieces.

“You drove a van across the country and all by yourself?”

“You taught teenagers in New Jersey?”

“Your husband does what at night?” followed by giggles.

We hiked through sprawling meadows, past towering aspen groves, and over crystal-clear creeks.

As the trail narrowed and wound its way up to breathtaking mountain vistas, we could hear the cascading waters of our ultimate destination, the waterfall. Some of us explored the rugged paths beyond the falls while others took a snack break. Back in the van, everyone shared their trail tales and looked forward to a hearty dinner.

Yes, we deserved a great dinner! And that’s what we had at the Wesley & Rose Restaurant in Buena Vista. With just the right blend of rustic charm and elegance, it provided a warm setting where conversations deepened, and our connections grew stronger. The dishes, crafted from local produce and grass-fed cattle, were as visually stunning as they were delicious, a wonderful reward for our time on the trail.

Touring Colorado on Horseback: Giddy Up and Go!

The next morning, we traded hiking boots for saddles at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Stables. Cowboy Ralph, the owner, and a long-time native wrangler, lined us up to size us up to make sure each rider was matched with the right horse.

Once paired, the wranglers led the horses to a loading deck (yes, an actual deck about four feet off the ground) for mounting our horse. One by one, we climbed on, and with a quick adjustment of stirrups and a few reassuring words from the wranglers, we were ready to ride.

The trail unfolded before us like something from a Western epic. We were surrounded by Colorado’s 14’ers, and we followed historic wagon trails and railroad beds from the 1800s, passing pinyon trees, low, scrubby bushes, creeks, and old trout ponds. It was a landscape that could have been pulled straight from a John Ford film — vast, rugged, and utterly timeless.

Words of encouragement echoed as we got on horseback; I heard shouts of “You got this!”

For some of the women, the prospect of being on horseback was a bit intimidating. Nervous glances were met with words of encouragement. I heard shouts of “You got this!” and “Look at you riding that horse like you’ve done it all your life!”  Before long, the rhythmic clop of the horses’ hooves was drowned out by the laughter and cheerful chatter of the women riding.

I brought up the rear, riding the tallest horse—a Percheron, a type of draft horse. He towered above the rest, giving me the perfect perch for taking photos and seeing everyone ahead. After two hours in the saddle, we ended our ride with a hug and a pat for our horses, followed by a group photo with the wranglers. The cowgirl spirit was alive and well in all of us.

From Mountains to Dunes to Full Moon

Our final adventure was a road trip south of Salida. We all piled back into the big black van again, buzzing with row after row of laughter and chatter. That is until John Denver started singing through the speakers and fifteen women joined in, “Rocky Mountain Hiiiggghhhh in Coloradoooooo, Rocky Mountain High High in Coloradoooo….” We kept it up moving on to the sounds of Queen, Stevie Nicks, and Earth, Wind, and Fire as we rolled down the road.

Where were we headed? The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Yep, sand dunes, towering across a huge expanse of land…in Colorado! In fact, these dunes are the tallest in North America. This was one of our (many) trip highlights and had the group dazzled by the sheer OMG-ness of the sight. The drive itself was epic as we rode through the sparsely populated San Luis Valley, with miles of wide-open land stretching on either side of the road. As we neared the park’s entrance, the landscape became more desolate. Then the dunes came into view, and everyone collectively gasped.

Yes, sand dunes, the tallest in North America, were there in Colorado, delivering a dazzling OMG sight.

Dinner was a gourmet picnic, in an open-air shelter near the entrance to the dunes. As the sun lowered in the sky, we set out exploring the dunes with the soft sand shifting beneath our feet. Higher and higher, we trudged our way up, breathless but amazed by the beauty and vastness. When night fell and the sky turned inky black, we sat quietly as the Moon began its slow, mesmerizing rise over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Leslie, our group-appointed photographer who was always ready with her cell phone, whipped it out again to serenade us with “moon” songs, as we gazed at the mountain range with the moon glow peeping over. Soon, this otherwise lighthearted and social group of women grew silent. The moon rose high and eyes were fixated on the wonder of it all. Everyone was silent.

Fears Faced, Friendships Forged

As we gathered for our final breakfast, it was clear that everyone had accomplished something meaningful on this trip. From first-time horseback riders to those who braved white-water rafting, each woman faced new challenges and left feeling proud. What started as an adventure in Colorado became a journey of growth and connection, with new bonds made and strengthened along the way. The shared experiences and personal victories made this trip unforgettable, and every one of us left with memories and a sense of achievement that will last long after we return home.