Towering cliffs, rugged peaks, enchanting alpine pools, peaceful wilderness and gushing waterfalls. Pagosa Springs is a town you need to put on your list for the perfect mixture of relaxation and adventure.
My Grandmother has a time share in this small town, and for the past 6 years my family has been staying at Club Wyndham and loving their vacations. The condos have gorgeous views and are a great size for families to cook, play board games and hang out together. Clean, comfortable and great service.
This year I was able to be apart of the family vacay (first one in at least 12 years), joining my Aunt from Alaska, my Aunt, Uncle, and cousin from New Mexico and my Grandmother from Alabama along with my eight family members. It's the perfect meeting point and Fall couldn't be a better time with the leaves in full change from greens and yellows to oranges and reds. Complete with the perfect sunny 60 degree daily temperatures. Pagosa Springs has made the Ammerman family a loyal customer.
5 reasons why you should add Pagosa Springs to your list of upcoming vacations:
5. It is a mixing pot of vacationers from all over.
The population of Pagosa Springs is 1,727. 60% of private properties are owned by non residents, meaning most people use these home as vacation get aways.
4. Downtown Pagosa is a quaint, cute old town of restaurants, breweries and local shops to hang out in
Where to Eat/Drink:
-Riff Raff Brewery uses the water's warmth from the hot springs, as part of the brewing process (only one of three breweries in the US to do so)
-Wolfe Brewery has an outdoor beer garden with great views. And your stay during Pagosa Springs should only be about the outdoors and views on views.
-The Lost Cajun has a great atmosphere and delicious authentic Cajun food, with excellent service to boot. I found everywhere I went in Pagosa, whether it was waitors, bartenders, locals; everyone was exceptionally genuine and friendly. This aspect really puts a wonderful place to vacation over the top for me.
-Rosie's Pizzeria is a tasty pizza and great service, a great stop
3. Pagosa Springs sees over 300 days of sunshine each year
Reasons to wear sunglasses and hats, yes please! I think I know why everyone in town is so happy, they are full of sunshine. My sun loving soul was very much bursting with happiness.
2. Surrounded by 3 million acres of the San Juan National Forest
The Weminuche Forest, the largest wilderness area in Colorado, which means a lot of room for hiking, fishing, skiing, hot air balloon rides, rafting, kayaking; ADVENTURE.
Hikes:
Pagosa Springs is budding with natural beauty and has a lot of great trails to ditch your car and go explore more of what Mother Nature has to offer with varying distances suitable for all kinds of hikers:
-Treasure Falls (100 foot waterfall can be viewed from the highway, short walk in)
-Fourmile Falls (about 3 miles each way)
-Quartz Trail Lake (3.5 miles each way)
Fishing
-Whether it's in the various lakes throughout the town or on the San Juan River, there are plenty of small to medium size fish to be caught! To find the best places to cast your line, check here: Best Fishing in Pagosa
1. 'Pah gosah' means "Healing waters". The Utes called the sulfur rich mineral springs "pah" for "water" and "gosah" for "bad smell". It is the deepest geothermal hot spring in the world at 1,002 feet deep.
There are 3 different places to enjoy the hot springs and you will become familiar with the phrase, "Are you hear to soak?"
Not only can it be for a relaxing vacation, you can be helping your body at the same time. Some of the health benefits of soaking in mineral hot springs are:
-boosts blood circulation
-reduces stress, promotes sleep
-relieves pain, naturally
-cures skin problems (eczema and psoriasis symptoms specifically)
-A hotel in combination with 23 therapeutic mineral pools lined along the San Juan River ranging from 98 degrees F to 115 degrees F.
-If you are a guest at the hotel you get 24 hour free access to the pools
-They stay open late night, great way to relax after a long day of hiking, rafting, exploring
-Kid friendly, includes a swimming pool just for kids.
-Recommended for families
-Rooftop pools overlooking the San Juan river and mountains
-Smaller and more affordably priced than the Springs Resort and Spa
-Not as kid friendly, the baths are smaller and more intimate
-Not a hotel
-Recommended for couples, looking for a more personal and not so touristy experience
-Hotel as well as RV park
-Equipped with one hot spring pool and one hot tub with an indoor European bath house
-Recommended for RV's
Where your skin, your eyes, your soul will feel nourished and complete. Pagosa Springs, you have my soul.
Thanks Grandma!! <3 <3
xoxo
