since 2018 - steve's original
GUIDED WALKING TOURS IN SALIDA, COLORADO
The Tours the Locals Take
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REAL STORIES • SMALL GROUPS • WALK WITH STEVE
Explore historic downtown Salida with historian, author, broadcaster, and storyteller Steve Chapman. Choose the legendary Ghost & Murder Tour, step into Salida's untamed past on the Outlaws, Whores, & History Tour .
35,000+
1,200+
SINCE 2018
GUESTS
5-STAR REVIEWS
SHARING SALIDA'S STORIES
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CHOOSE YOUR guided tour
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steve's original
Ghost stories
True crime
Real history
outlaws, whores, & history TOUR
The wild side of Salida
salida
90 MINUTES
9:00 AM
SATURDAY ONLY
Outlaws & lawmen
Saloons & scandals
Ladies of the night
WANT STEVE ALL TO YOURSELF?
PRIVATE TOURS FOR ALL OCCASIONS
Private versions of Steve’s signature tours are available on a very limited basis for families, friends, organizations and special occasions.
Private tours are personally performed by Steve and priced accordingly. Limited availability. Advance arrangements required.
Flexible scheduling
Your group only
Perfect for celebrations and events
Customizable experience
Pick your tour based on interests
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meet your guide
steve chapman
Historian, author, broadcaster, and Salida local, Steve Chapman brings Salida's dark past to life with a mix of history, humor, and deep respect for the people who lived it. Limited schedule.
Award-winning radio producer
Author of the Salida True Crime series
Award-winning podcaster
Thousands of tours led • Over 35,000 guests
Author of the Salida History series
Salida's storyteller since 2018
Questions & answers
What guided tours are available in Salida? Steve’s Original Salida Walking Tours offers three guided experiences: the Ghost & Murder Tour, exploring Salida’s darker history after sunset; Outlaws, Whores & History, bringing the town’s Wild West past to life. Guided tours are personally led by Steve Chapman on a limited weekly schedule.
What’s the difference between the Ghost Tour and the History Tour? The Ghost & Murder Tour explores Salida’s darker side after sunset, with true stories of hauntings, unexplained events, murders, and the people connected to them. Outlaws, Whores & History takes you into Salida’s Wild West past—the outlaws, madams, saloons, gunfights, lawmen, and colorful characters who built a rough-and-rowdy railroad town. Both are rooted in real Salida history, but they tell very different stories.
How long are the walking tours? Most guided walking tours last approximately 90 minutes. The pace is comfortable, with frequent stops along the way to hear the stories, so you won’t be walking continuously for 90 minutes.
Are the tours historically researched? Yes. Every tour is researched and written by Steve Chapman using historic newspapers, public records, archives, photographs, and other primary sources. The stories are tied to real people, events, and locations in Salida—not generic Wild West tales or invented local legends.
Where do the tours meet? All guided walking tours meet on the F Street Bridge in downtown Salida, near 291 North F Street. Your booking confirmation includes the meeting location and arrival instructions.
Are private walking tours available? Yes. Private walking tours are available by request for families, friends, couples, corporate groups, celebrations, organizations and other special occasions. Your group gets Steve to yourselves, with flexible scheduling and the ability to customize the experience. Private tours are personally led by Steve and availability is limited, so advance arrangements are recommended.
Can I book a private Architecture or True Crime Tour? Yes. Both the Historic Downtown Architecture Tour and Salida True Crime Tour are available as private guided tours by request. Private tours are personally led by Steve, with flexible scheduling and your group to yourselves. Availability is limited, so advance arrangements are recommended.
Which Salida walking tour is best for me? For a guided tour with Steve, choose the Ghost & Murder Tour for haunted history, unexplained events, murders and Salida after dark. Choose Outlaws, Whores & History for the Wild West—outlaws, madams, saloons, gunfights and lawmen. Prefer to explore on your own? The Historic Downtown Architecture Tour and Salida True Crime Tour are available exclusively as self-guided audio tours, along with audio versions of Ghost & Murder and Outlaws, Whores & History. Start anytime and explore at your own pace.
What if I prefer a self-guided tour? All four Salida experiences are available as professionally produced self-guided audio tours. Explore on your own schedule with professional voice actors, soundtracks and sound effects, plus easy-to-follow maps and directions. No guide to meet and no annoying app to download—just open the tour on your phone and explore at your own pace.