The first glimpse of the bar includes a glimpse of its barbecue pit outside, a good omen for the food within and a symbol that this is a community gathering point, not just a quick roadside stop. Elk Creek runs along the backside of the building with sporadic parking next to and across from the Bucksnort. The building feels as if it almost hangs over the water, a small patio outside offering the chance to soak in the tree-dominated Colorado view.
But as with any great dive bar, the real magic is inside and the Bucksnort Saloon delivers, a swinging patio door offering entry to a low-set, log cabin-looking interior dominated by dollar bills that don’t just hang from the ceiling or around the bar but rather paper as much interior space as possible. Bar stools take the form of upright log stumps, the bar lit by wrap around windows looking out onto Elk Creek and its surroundings. A woodfire stove sits in the center of the main room. All of this is to say that the Bucksnort Saloon is every bit the classic Colorado dive bar experience, down to the worn wooden floor and the paper towel rolls stationed at every table.
By all accounts, the food at the Bucksnort is legit, from barbecue coming off the outdoor pit to the Buck Burgers that serve as a menu staple. On this reviewer’s recent visit, there was as much food being consumed as alcohol, which isn’t true of every dive bar to be certain. The vibe was very much “neighborhood watering hole,” a collection of locals, bikers, cyclists on pit stops, families. The space transforms at night as live music regularly crams itself into one corner of the main room and temperatures dip to put a little bit of a chill in the air, even during summer months.