Pagosa Springs - town in and county seat of Archuleta County, Colorado, United States

Pagosa Springs is a town of 2,100 people (2019) in Southwestern Colorado along the San Juan River. It is most famous for its natural hot springs. There are also many opportunities for recreational activities nearby, such as the Wolf Creek Ski Area.

Get in

Pagosa Springs Airport (Stevens Field) is a full service general aviation airport that accommodates charter and private aircraft. For services at Stevens Field contact FBO operator Avjet Corp. at +1 970-731-2127 or StevensFieldAirport (dead link: January 2023)

The nearest commercial airport to Pagosa Springs is the Durango/La Plata County Airport near Durango, which offers commuter air service to the major airports at Dallas Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.

Durango is about 60 miles west of Pagosa Springs on US Highway 160. From the east, US-160 connects Pagosa Springs to Alamosa via the Wolf Creek Pass. The scenery is spectacular, but take care as the road receives heavy snowfall and is often closed during the winter. To the south, US-84 crosses over the state line to Chama, New Mexico and beyond that Santa Fe.

Get around

The central part of Pagosa Springs, where the hot springs are, is small and easily walkable. However the outer parts of town are growing quickly, especially the western part where there's plenty of new residences and big box stores. For those areas, a car is needed, but locals are friendly to hitchhikers going uptown and downtown. The Mountain Express Bus (dead link: December 2020) travels all over town.

See

• The Springs Resort, 165 Hot Springs Blvd, 37.265882°, -107.009596°, +1 970-264-2284. Summer: 7AM-11PM. Easily the most popular attraction in Pagosa Springs is the natural hot mineral springs, which are widely believed to have therapeutic abilities. This resort offers 18 outdoor mineral pools situated next to the San Juan River, plus an outdoor heated non-mineral pool and jacuzzi. $24.50 adults, $21.50 seniors, $14 children.
• San Juan Historical Museum.
• Fred Harman Art Museum, 85 Harman Park Drive (just south of US 160 west of the center of town), +1 970-731-5785. Summer (2 May - 30 September): 10:30AM-5PM (closed Sundays); winter by appointment. A museum dedicated to the work of the creator of the "Red Ryder and Little Beaver" comic, a long-time resident of Pagosa Springs. A gift shop offers prints of Harman's Red Ryder work as well as of other Harman art. $3.00 adults, $0.50 children
• Treasure Falls, Highway 160 (about 15 miles east of town), 37.4431°, -106.874°. A small roadside attraction on the way up Wolf Creek Pass is this scenic waterfall just off the road, visible from the parking lot. A short but fairly steep trail through a pine forest takes hikers from the parking lot to the base of the falls, close enough to feel the spray from the falls, and makes from a good chance to stretch your legs after a long drive. 2016-01-05
• Chimney Rock National Monument, 37.1917°, -107.306°. May 15–Sep 30: 9AM–4:30PM; last tour at 3PM. An Ancestral Puebloan archaeological site. Entry only by tour: guided tours $16 for adults and $8 for children 5–12; self-guided tours $12 for adults and $6 for children 2020-04-09

Do

• Wolf Creek Ski Area, Highway 160 (about 20 miles east of town), 37.4722°, -106.793°, +1 970-264-5639. 8:30AM-4PM. A small, family-run facility, Wolf Creek has the most snow in Colorado at an average of 465 inches annually. Its seven lifts serve many trails, from groomed easy and intermediate trails to difficult runs with lots of trees. A ski school, equipment rental shop, gift shop, and food service are on the premises, but there is no lodging available at the ski area. Lift tickets: $76 adult full-day, $60 adult half-day, $46 senior full-day, $39 child full-day, $38 senior half-day, $32 child half-day (3 day passes available, equipment rentals and ski school extra).
  • Nordic (cross-country) skiing is also available in many locations around Pagosa Springs, taking advantage of the same profusion of snow that makes Wolf Creek attractive for downhill. The Pagosa Springs Nordic ski club grooms trails in several of these areas and keeps an on-line record of what areas have been groomed recently, along with trail maps, directions, etc. Most, but not all, trails are in locales freely available to the public. Note that many backcountry, off-the-beaten-path Nordic areas involve significant avalanche hazard.
• Liberty Theater, 418 Pagosa St (on Main Street downtown), +1 970-264-7469. Established in 1919, the Liberty Theatre is the fourth oldest theater in Colorado and is a historic landmark.
• San Juan Mountain & Golf Resort. A few miles west form the center of the town, this golf course a beautiful view and some great holes. Your stay will cost from $600 per night.

Buy

• Choke Cherry Tree, 56 Talisman Drive, +1 970-731-4951. The Choke Cherry Tree is a great place to get delicious home-made candies and chocolates.

Eat

• Alley House Grille, 214 Pagosa St. (on US 160 on the east side of town), +1 970-264-0999, contact@alleyhousegrille.com. Tu-Sa 5-9PM. Fine dining in an historic house near downtown. Reservations recommended (call after 3:30PM) but not required. 2015-11-16
• Boss Hogg's Saloon, 157 Navajo Trail Dr, +1 970-731-2626. The salad bar and soup are great and are served in a rustic atmosphere.
• Chavolos Taqueria, 301 N Pagosa Blvd, +1 970 731-2501. Excellent Mexican food is served in large portions with a good price and great Margaritas.
• The Rose, 408 Main St., +1 970-264-2955. 7AM - 1PM daily. A long-time local favorite for breakfast and lunch. 2015-11-16
• Rosie's Pizzeria, 100 Country Center, +1 970-731-0420. Summer hours: Daily 11AM-10PM except Tuesdays, when it is closed. New York-style pizza with beer on tap.

Drink

• Pagosa Bar, 460 Pagosa St.,laid back historic bar.
• Riff Raff Brewery,274 Pagosa St. local brews and bar food.
• Pagosa Brewing and Grille, 118 N Pagosa Blvd.

Sleep

• Pagosa Springs Inn and Suites, 519 Village Dr, +1 970-731-3400.
• Pagosa Lodge, 3505 West Highway 160, +1 970-731-4141. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.

Connect

Go next

Highway 160 North to Alamosa, CO and Great Sand Dunes National Park can be treacherous during all seasons as you drive through Wolf Creek Pass. Many people die each year when driving through the steep grades and tight switchbacks. Be especially careful when driving during the winter.

Highway 160 West towards Durango, Silverton, and Mesa Verde National Park is safe, but be extremely wary of wildlife at night and icy roads in winter. There is no cellular service from Aspen Springs to Bayfield (30 mi).