Archuleta: Forests, Waterfalls, and Cultural Sites

San Juan National Forest accounts for 49 percent of Archuleta County. The county receives an average of 116 inches of snow per year. Pagosa Springs is located on US Highway 160, an east-west highway. Wolf Creek Pass is a short drive from downtown Pagosa Springs; skiing at Wolf Creek Ski Area is also part of the range of travel experiences in Pagosa Springs. The area around Pagosa Springs provides access to 2.5 million acres of wilderness and national forest land for hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, and backcountry adventures.

Trails and Waterfalls

Reservoir Hill offers numerous trails for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. It also has an 18-hole disc golf course. Cloman Park also has an 18-hole disc golf course, as well as hiking and mountain biking trails. Turkey Springs provides access to the National Forest and opportunities for camping, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, off-road vehicle driving, hunting, and winter activities.

Coyote Hill is an easy, low-elevation loop trail with views of the San Juan Mountains and Pagosa Peak. The Piedra River Trail offers a different route: it runs 12 miles from trailhead to trailhead and descends from the rim of a canyon to the river. Piedra Falls is about half a mile from the trailhead; the round trip takes approximately 30 minutes.

The Opal Lake Trail is 1.2 miles long; after about a mile, it enters the South San Juan Wilderness. Mineral deposits at the inlet give the lake its milky color. The Quartz Creek Trail is 6.5 miles long and provides access to a section of the Continental Divide Trail south of Summit Peak. North of Pagosa Springs, a moderately challenging, three-mile trail with uphill sections leads to a twin waterfall. It offers views of Eagle Mountain (12,007 feet) and Pagosa Peak (12,640 feet).

The 100-foot-high Treasure Falls is visible from US 160. A short trail, about a quarter mile long, leads to Misty Deck, where you can feel the waterfall's spray. The route to Lobo Overlook offers a viewpoint, restrooms, a picnic area, parking, and access to a section of the Continental Divide Trail. The road is open from late June to early September; check road conditions before setting out. For another scenic drive, try the 35- to 60-mile Plumtaw–Piedra Loop, with viewpoints, Deb’s Historic Schoolhouse, and several trailheads. Here, too, check road conditions before setting out.

History and Culture

Chimney Rock National Monument covers 4,726 acres and preserves hundreds of prehistoric sites around the twin peaks of Chimney Rock and Companion Rock. At Chimney Rock, the ancestors of today’s Pueblo communities built more than 200 homes and ceremonial structures; the site is spiritually significant to many tribes. Archaeological findings at the Chimney Rock ruins point to a thriving community that lived there and in the surrounding area until about 1125 AD.

An accessible, self-guided tour at Chimney Rock includes the Great Kiva and a reconstructed pit house. Since seasonal schedules may change, check visiting hours in advance. The Pagosa Springs History Museum is downtown at 96 Pagosa Street, next to the bridge over the San Juan River. It is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., from Memorial Day through Labor Day; it is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. Since the seasonal schedule may change, check opening hours before your visit.

Wildlife and Water

The Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park teaches visitors about Colorado’s native wildlife and offers close-up wildlife viewing in natural habitats. A daily feeding tour led by an animal keeper is also available. Since the schedule may change, check it before your visit.

Navajo State Park is 35 miles southwest of Pagosa Springs. Navajo Reservoir extends 20 miles south into New Mexico and covers 15,000 surface acres. It attracts sailors, houseboaters, motorboaters, anglers, and campers year-round. Sailing is permitted; check boating rules and launch site requirements before heading out.

The Navajo State Park wildlife areas, accessible via Archuleta County Road 988 and Highway 151, offer opportunities to observe deer, elk, foxes, beavers, muskrats, prairie dogs, river otters, jackrabbits, raccoons, and numerous bird species. The San Juan River flows through downtown Pagosa Springs. Depending on the season and water levels, it offers whitewater and recreational opportunities for calm-water outings.

Explore more destinations: Pagosa Springs, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Chaffee, Costilla County, Fremont, Yuma County, Adams

For the main travel overview: Colorado.