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Pagosa Springs - Colorado at Its Best

Located in the midst of the San Juan Mountains, the Weminuche wilderness, and at the edge of the Continental Divide at an altitude of 7,052 feet, Pagosa Springs is a unique and unspoiled mountain community which combines history, spectacular scenery, and old fashioned hospitality and the congeniality of country living. Pagosa grew to be a town through trading and ranching, and later was a center for mining and timber. Located in the center of town is a remarkable hot springs, the source of which is called Pagosa (Pag-O-sah) in one of the original Native American languages, the largest and hottest of all the mineral hot springs in North America. Visitors have come to the area just to experience and enjoy the therapeutic qualities of the remarkable waters of this springs. The town extends along the San Juan River, which has its source at the foot of Wolf Creek Pass. The original town has now grown to the West to include the Pagosa Lakes area, and is the center for all of Archuleta County which contains many working ranches, farms, as well as thriving local businesses of all kinds including many fine restaurants, art galleries, shops which carry local and regional crafts, and merchandise of all kinds.

The region is renowned for some of the most spectacular scenery in Colorado, steep mountain passes, high alpine meadows, pine and fir forests, lakes, rivers, and streams which are filled with gold medal trout, and wilderness that extends for hundreds of miles on every side. Trails, Forest Service and private campgrounds, and stocked lakes and streams, and the vast stretches of unspoiled natural beauty provide unparalleled wilderness recreation year round. In the summer cultural and historic events in Pagosa and the area provide many attractions for visitors including the annual Fiesta, the Four Corners Folk Festival, the Fourth of July Carnival and Arts and Crafts Festival and ColorFest and WinterFest, two annual town celebrations that include mass ascensions of a fleet of colorful hot air balloons. In the winter, the Wolf Creek Ski area at the top of Wolf Creek Pass offers some of the best skiing in all of Colorado, and has the most snow of any ski area, 465 natural inches. Located at an elevation of 10,300 feet with a summit elevation of 11, 904 feet, the ski area has 1600 skiable acres and a vertical drop of 1,604 feet, and a comfortable crowd capacity of 4,200 skiers, and a lift capacity of 8,280. OF the 50 ski trails, 45% are Expert/Advanced, 35% are Intermediate and 20% are Beginner, with 5 lifts including the new Alberta Lift. The fantastic skiing at Wolf Creek brings eager visitors to Pagosa Springs all winter long, and many return year after year after experiencing the friendly welcome of our town and the great skiing in the unspoiled and natural beauty of Wolf Creek.

For those who enjoy exploring history and culture heritage sites, Pagosa is surrounded by ancient native American, Anasazi, early Spanish, Pioneer and mining history. The remarkable ruins of early Puebloean culture at Chimney Rock, Mesa Verde, and other regional centers show the thousands of years of civilized heritage in our area. Ghost towns, mine buildings and sites are located at Summitville, Creede, north in Silverton and Ouray, in Durango and elsewhere nearby. There are two of the few remaining historic narrow gauge steam railroads still operating within easy drive of Pagosa: the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad which travels between Chama and Antonito. Both operate in the summer and visitors can enjoy the combined enjoyment of riding the historic trains and also seeing unspoiled and spectacular scenery. Local outfitters can take you on jeep tours, or by horseback into the wilderness to visit these historic sites, or you can enjoy a self-guided adventure of your own design and making.

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Climate
The Climate in Pagosa Springs is typical of a mountain community. Springs has cool nights and warm days with numerous afternoon rain showers. Summer days are pleasant varying in temperature from the low to upper 80's with cool nights. Fall brings beautiful fall colors, and cooler temperatures. Winter brings the most snow of any area in Colorado, snow may fall from November until May.

National Forests
In the area of Pagosa Springs are two National Forests, the San Juan National Forest and the Rio Grande National Forest, both of which have campgrounds which are open in the spring, summer and fall seasons for recreation and overnight visitors. There are extensive trails in the area, suitable for both short hikes and longer journeys, and several include natural hot springs in wilderness settings.

Local hiking maps and information are available from the Chamber of Commerce in Pagosa Springs and from Juan's Mountain Sports, there is a book available on local trails published by the Trails Council. A new trails system including overnight huts is being built, sponsored by the Trails Council, and the first of these, the Turkey Springs Hut can be booked through the Forest Service by calling (970) 264-2268. The second hut, the Hotz Springs Hut, will be available later this summer. Additional information on the hut trails can be obtained by calling John Applegate, of the Trails Council at (970) 731-9325.

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Pagosa Hot Springs
Known to be the largest and deepest natural mineral hot springs in the world, the Great Pagosa Hot Spring has been visited for centuries by Native Americans and by "the white man" as far back as records of the therapeutic qualities of the mineral waters have been kept. The word "Pah GO-sah" is the name the Ute Indians gave the springs when they discovered it centuries ago. The Great Pagosa aquifer rises to the earth's surface from a main source, or "mother spring", and via a number of smaller springs which are located at the center of the town along the shores of the San Juan River.

Wolf Creek Ski Area and Skiing in Pagosa
The Wolf Creek Ski area at the top of Wolf Creek Pass offers some of the best skiing in all of Colorado, and has the most snow of any ski area, 465 natural inches. Located at an elevation of 10,300 feet with a summit elevation of 11, 904 feet, the ski area has 1600 skiable acres and a vertical drop of 1,604 feet, and a comfortable crowd capacity of 4,200 skiers, and a lift capacity of 8,280. OF the 50 ski trails, 45% are Expert/Advanced, 35% are Intermediate and 20% are Beginner, with 5 lifts including the new Alberta Lift. The owners and operators of the Ski Area, the Pitcher family, have worked hard to create a unique ski area that combines the maximum in enjoyable skiing with a natural and unspoiled setting. There is also excellent cross country skiing at Wolf Creek and throughout the area, including groomed trails that are maintained by local ski clubs and area businesses on the Pagosa Springs Golf Course around Pinon Lake, in Turkey Springs and in other areas.

River Activities and Lakes
Pagosa Springs has many river, streams and lakes in unsurpassed wilderness settings for rafting, kayaking, boating and fishing. The San Juan River descends from its headwaters in Wolf Creek Pass and travels through the center of Pagosa, flowing on down to Navajo Lake. In the spring and summer, during the snow melt and high water season, rafters and kayakers come from all over to enjoy the rivers in this area. There is always excellent fishing throughout the region, and Navajo Lake to the south, which lies on the border with New Mexico; Williams Creek Reservoir, Echo Lake, Hatcher Lake, Lake Pagosa, and many more alpine lakes lie throughout Archuleta County and the surrounding National Forest lands. Information on all of these is available from the Chamber of Commerce, the San Juan Ranger District and from local river outfitters.

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Hot Air Balloon Excursions
Experience the beauties of Colorado and the wide mountain vistas from the basket of a brightly coloured hot air balloon, all year round, and visit during our two annual hot air balloon festivals, ColorFest and Winterfest. The balloons ascend in the early morning air and you travel silently with the wind out across the landscape, for a remarkable experience.

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The Pagosa Lodge
in beautiful Pagosa Springs, Colorado
970-731-4141

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