Pagosa Springs is the cutest little rustic town you are looking for when coming to visit the colorful state of Colorado! This charming town just north of Chama, New Mexico has it all! Relax in a hot springs, float down the riverside, or admire the breathtaking waterfalls of the area. Not a fan of water, no problem, there are amazing hikes both short and long. Delicious restaurants, local grown farmers markets, and multiple chocolate shops for the foodie tourist. There are all kinds of activities for toddlers, to teens, to young adults, and even seniors. Pagosa Springs is the cutest town in Colorado that you will not want to miss!
Where to stay?
Wyndham Pagosa has some of the most comfortable cabins and lofts to stay in! This beautiful resort is on the west side of town, conveniently close to Walmart. It has multiple lakes and swimming pools at the resort to swim in or just admire. Also try a quick mini golf game as a family at the resorts putt putt field. If you are just wanting to relax and admire the view, the view will take your breath away. This resort has the most beautiful view of the surrounding mountains!
Try booking for a eagles loft! Trust me it will not disappoint. A 3 story building that is small at the bottom and gets bigger the farther up you go! With a hot tub at the bottom, full kitchen, deck, and plenty of rooms and space, what is not to like about this unique stay?
- Website: http://www.wyndhampagosa.net/
- Location:
24 Hour Itinerary:
1. Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park and Trail Ride
Experience the beauty and wildlife of the Colorado state all at one place! The Wildlife Park is a mini zoo of animals native to the state of Colorado. From wolves, to foxes, to elk, to black bears, and more all in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
The start of your adventure is an area of chickens, rabbits, and ponies. As you enter the cabin you will see tons of taxidermy animals all native to they state. When you exit the building you will loop around a small area and to admire and watch these animals. Each pen has a sign telling you the names of the animals, which makes it kind of fun. It is a really small park and to be honest I do believe it is overpriced, but still one you and especially kids will love. Our favorite was the porcupines.
Every day at either 3pm in the summer or 2pm in the winter come and join in on the feeding tour. Watch and learn from the caretakers as they teach, interact with, and feed the animals.
Not only can you see animals, but you can also ride some! Would it really be a Colorado adventure if you didn’t ride a horse? There are trail rides available for either a ½ hour ride or an hour. Just know that closed toed shoes are required and I highly recommend you wear long pants if you are not a regular rider. Chaffing and the heat of the saddle can really hurt. Booking a trail ride ahead of time is highly advised.
- Tips: DO NOT GO AT THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY OR YOU WILL NOT SEE ANY ANIMALS! Go in the morning or evening when the animals are outside of their dens and burrows.
- Price: $10 ages 13+, $7 ages 3-12, 2 and under FREE, $9 seniors ages 65+// Horseback riding- $30 per person for ½ hour ride and $40 per person for an hour ride (only in summer time May-September)
- Deals: groups of 12 or more get $1 off general admission
- Hours: May 15th– Oct 1st 9am-5pm every day and feeding tours at 3pm, Oct 2nd– May 14th 12pm-4pm every day and feeding tours at 2pm
- Website: https://www.pagosawildlifepark.com/
- Location:
2. Tube down the river at Town Park
Park your car over at Town Park and walk across the street to Pagosa Outside Adventures. Rent yourself a tube, walk back to Town Park to the riverbank and get ready for the best ½ mile tubing trip you have ever been on! Within this short distance there are 3 whitewater features, areas deep enough to swim in, multiple parks to stop at, and a hot springs!
Not wanting to rent a tube check out these ones you can bring yourself:
This is the best thing to do in Pagosa Springs and you will love it! Just check out the Pagosa Outside Adventures website to book your tubing experience, check the map and flow forecast!
- Tips: Wear water shoes! The river is very rocky and shallow in some parts. You may have to get out of the water a few times and to get your tub unstuck. Water shoes will save your feet a world of pain!
- Price: $19 3hr tube, $22 XL 3hr tube, $39 double 3hr tube, $29 full day tube, $33 XL full day tube, $59 double full day tube
- Hours: everyday 9am-6pm
- Website: https://pagosaoutside.com/
- Location:
3. Malt Shoppe
I am a firm believer in treating yourself, so stop by the Malt Shop and treat yourself to a delicious classic lunch of burgers, fries, and old fashioned malts. I mean can you really stop and eat at the malt shop without trying one of their malts!? You will not regret it, they are so good! I highly recommend the Raspberry Malt!
- Hours: Thurs-Mon 9am-7pm, Tues-Wed Closed
- Website: http://www.maltshoppepagosa.com
- Location:
4. Treasure Falls
What better way to end the day then an evening hike to the treasure in Pagosa Springs, Colorado! Literally, it is called Treasure Falls! This gorgeous waterfall is right off of Hwy 160 north of Pagosa Springs, and I mean right off the hwy. You can see it from your car if you wanted to, but where is the fun in that!?
Park your car in the parking lot in front of the falls for a distant view of the falls. It is a gorgeous view, but trust me you ain’t seen nothing yet! There are 2 trails, one on either side of the parking lot. Take the short 0.6 mile hike to the left of the parking lot, for a quick trail up close to the falls.
This hike is very clearly marked and is very popular. I have never made this hike without seeing somebody else along the way. It is uphill the entire way to the falls, and downhill the entire way back to the parking lot. Not strenuous, but enough to make you breath a bit harder, especially if you are not used to the elevation.
It is a kid friendly trail, but like I said it is all uphill there. I suggest if you have a baby or a toddler that you bring a hiking carrier or a baby carrier to get them to the top. Personally, I did this hike on my own with a 3 year old, 2 year old, and a 5 month old baby with little difficulty, because I was fully prepared. I saw many other parents having to juggle around their toddlers as they hiked up this mountainside.
Prepared, I had a baby carrier and I have a toddler hiking carrier. If you are looking for a good toddler carrier try this one from Amazon. It is comfortable, lightweight, has an optional shaded cover, and still has pockets to carry things.
My favorite baby carrier is from tiny-toddler.com and it is so nice! It has 6 different ways you can carry your baby, the straps can be repositioned so your baby’s weight isn’t on your shoulders, and it has room to store stuff in it. Use discount code 2Camilla15 for 15% off of your purchase! Click here to go to the tiny-toddler site.
Keep an eye out for wildlife! There are chipmunks all over the place, but we saw more snakes than we did chipmunks. They were harmless coach whip snakes, but I am terrified of any kind of snake so it scared me!
There are 2 separate view points of the falls on this hike. The first is at the bridge. This is a great place to take off your shoes and soak your feet in the cold water across the bridge. It gives you a close, but not too close view of the falls.
The second view point is right at the base of the falls! You will be so close, you will feel the cool mist of the falls on your face. There is a slight railing there to keep you from falling off the giant boulder, but keep your little ones close if you have them, cause it is just a warning railing and will not prevent you from actually falling. Face the towering waterfall on one side and turn around to see an amazing view of the mountains on the other side!
The waterfalls depth and power will depend on the time of year that you hike. Hike around March and you the waterfall will be thick and powerful, letting a ton of water fall due to the snow melting. Go around the end of summer and it will be more like a trickle off a rock. Pick your beauty, but it is well worth the stop!
- Tips: Bring water! It is a short hike, but the entire thing is inclined upwards and you will wear yourself out quick! Camel Hydration Packs are a super easy and lightweight way to carry water on a hike.
- Location:
Waterfalls Near Pagosa Springs, Colorado:
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