Buena Vista—"BV" to locals—sits at nearly 8,000 feet in the heart of Colorado's Collegiate Peaks, where the Arkansas River is still young and the fourteeners tower overhead. This Chaffee County town has transformed from a quiet ranching community into one of Colorado's premier outdoor recreation destinations, and iHaul iMove has been helping families make the move here since 2008. The drive from Colorado Springs takes about two hours, through Woodland Park and over Trout Creek Pass on US-24, or down through Canon City and up the Arkansas valley.

The outdoor recreation defines BV. The Arkansas River through town is considered the whitewater capital of Colorado, with commercial rafting operations, world-class kayaking, and the annual FIBArk downstream in Salida drawing athletes from around the globe. The South Main development along the river brought a purpose-built whitewater park right into town. Surrounding the valley, the Collegiate Peaks—Mt. Princeton (14,197'), Mt. Yale (14,196'), Mt. Harvard (14,420')—create a skyline that people travel across the country to experience. Hikers, climbers, mountain bikers, and backcountry skiers call BV home for good reason.

The hot springs are another major draw. Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort sits in the shadow of its namesake peak, with natural hot spring pools along Chalk Creek. Cottonwood Hot Springs, just west of town, offers a more rustic, community-focused soaking experience. These aren't tourist gimmicks—they're genuine geothermal features that locals use year-round, and proximity to the springs is a real factor in where people choose to buy.

Moving to Buena Vista requires mountain expertise. Many properties sit on unpaved county roads that can challenge standard moving trucks, especially during spring mud season or after winter storms. Elevation matters—our crews are acclimated and pace themselves appropriately at 8,000 feet, where physical labor hits differently. We've moved families into log cabins up Cottonwood Pass road, custom homes overlooking the Collegiate Peaks, and downtown residences in BV's growing Main Street district. Each move here has terrain considerations that flat-ground movers simply don't understand.

BV's growth has been dramatic. Remote workers, retirees, and outdoor enthusiasts have pushed housing prices up and inventory down, but the town retains its character—ranching families still run cattle in the valley, the Lariat Bar on Main Street is still the Lariat Bar, and locals still pronounce it "BYOO-nuh Vista" (never the Spanish pronunciation). Whether you're building new in a Collegiate Peaks development or buying a century-old home near downtown, iHaul iMove brings the mountain moving experience and local knowledge that Buena Vista demands.