Spring & Summer Activities

Experience the thrill of whitewater rafting without getting in over your head. Take a leisurely meandering float on the downtown stretch of the San Juan known as the fun, splashy Pagosa Springs Whitewater Park or seek out technical rapids on a more heart-pumping adventure down the rugged and remote Piedra River. For the biggest and best Pagosa Springs whitewater rafting, time your visit to The Springs in prime rafting months, May or June. In the late summer when the water has dropped and the river slows, tubing becomes the favorite activity on the San Juan River. Cheer them on from our pools one day and join them the next. What better way to spend a hot sunny day?

Experience traditional family fun and the romance of the Rockies.  Conveniently located on property at The Springs Resort and Spa, your 30-minute wagon ride venture includes a meet-and-greet with 2,000-pound draft horses, a beverage, photographing opportunities, and an unforgettable scenic ride encompassing the San Juan River, iconic hot springs, and majestic San Juan mountains.  Enhance your experience with a 1-hour S’mores ride adventure- complete with s’mores fixings, lemonade, outdoor games, and a cowboy guitar entertainer playing classic songs around the fire.

Armed with a map and your spirit of adventure, explore the ATV trails around Pagosa Springs. Ride through the San Juan Forest, cross creeks, climb rocky grades, wind down narrow trails in the forest, and climb up the side of mountains. Enjoy a fun day outdoors with family and friends.

Experience the more than 3-million acres of the San Juan Forest and Weminuche Wilderness areas the way they were trekked decades ago, on horseback. Enjoy a gentle ride in the heart of the Rocky Mountains exploring our extraordinary backcountry wilderness at a pace we think you can get used to.

A place of mystery, a sacred site, a celestial observatory, and a seasonal calendar of the Ancestral Puebloans more than 1,000 years ago. This archaeological treasure at the southern edge of the San Juan Mountains preserves some 200 ancient homes and ceremonial buildings, preserved petroglyphs, rock wall art, great kivas, and more. The highest elevation of all the Chacoan sites (about 7,000 feet above sea level), it’s a half-mile hike to the top and dramatic panoramic views of Colorado and New Mexico.

The areas around Pagosa Springs are a haven for rock climbing. A couple of popular options include the Piedra River Canyon and V-Rock. If you’re up for the hour and a half drive, Penitente Canyon, a world-famous rock climbing destination, offers more than 300 incredible sport climbing routes. On the edge of the Rio Grande National Forest in the San Luis Valley, the canyon’s 100-foot walls are part of the La Garita Caldera, formed more than 30 million years ago. Penitente is known by climbers around the world, as both a great place to learn and a premiere climbing destination.

Nestled in the beautiful San Juan Mountains. Basking in the glorious Rocky Mountain weather. Surrounded by majestic Ponderosa Pines, Blue Spruce, and Aspen, with astonishing views from every hole. Being distracted may be your top hazard on these diverse, beautiful courses. And hitting your drive farther than ever before thanks to the altitude (from tee boxes sitting at over 7,000 feet!) will have you feeling like a pro. The best part? After a challenging day on the greens, unlimited healing mineral soaks.

Backpacking and Hiking in Pagosa’s surrounding 3 million acres of national forest and wilderness areas provides nearly endless opportunities. Backpackers will discover immediate solitude, amazing scenery and endless trails – and with a Hut System in place, there’s a variety of backcountry experiences to discover. Guided backpacking trips are also available.

There are four magnificent, accessible waterfalls in the Pagosa Springs area. We don’t believe “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.” Each of our waterfalls is a unique experience, and we highly suggest a visit to each one. Springtime often provides the best experience to enjoy the amazing runoff.

A visit to the Pagosa Springs area puts you on the doorstep of three amazing train experiences transporting you back to a feeling of the Old West. Take a step back into history and book a trip on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama, New Mexico, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Durango, Colorado, or the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad in Alamosa, Colorado. Each railroad offers unique experiences and breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains you won’t soon forget.

For a dose of theater, you’ll find a couple options to keep you entertained. Pagosa Springs is home to a year-round professional theatre company, Thingamajig Theatre Company at the Pagosa Center for the Arts. Curtains Up Pagosa is a wonderful community theatre celebrating its 29th year. There’s a show for everyone!

The Pagosa Springs area is home to many rivers, lakes and reservoirs that provide boating options from kayaking, whitewater rafting, floating, canoeing to motorized boating, SUP and jetskiing.

A beautiful lake just a couple miles south of Pagosa perfect for fishing, paddle boarding, canoeing, kayak and even launch a pontoon boat.

A gorgeous lake nestled against the San Juan Mountains.
Hiking, fishing, a scenic picnic. Williams Creek Reservoir is one of Pagosa’s most accessible, scenic locales. Spend a day, spend the weekend. You won’t be disappointed.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Navajo State Park is Colorado’s Answer to Lake Powell. Navajo Reservoir Extends for 20 miles South into New Mexico. Boaters and campers enjoy the park year-round. Sailors, house boaters​​ and other power boaters cruise some of the 15,000 surface-acres of the giant reservoir. Daily and seasonal slip and mooring ball rentals, boat rentals and gasoline for boats are available at the park’s Two Rivers Marina.
Navajo features 138 campsites; most sites are open year-round. Fishing​ enthusiasts catch crappie, large-mouth and small-mouth bass, northern pike, trout, bluegill and catfish in the reservoir.​

Downtown Pagosa Springs has an amazing disc golf course with 18-holes on Reservoir Hill. The course is a scenic and rugged hillside with fairways carved through Ponderosa, Pinons, and lots of Scrub Oak. Dogs and kids welcome. Wear good shoes and bring water.

Ghost towns, gold mines, and mountain top peaks. And a 1800s mining town at 12,000 feet, aptly named Summitville, where you’ll see the old school, hotel, church, and miners’ cabins. You’ll cross the Continental Divide at Wolf Creek Pass and stop at scenic overlooks and Treasure Falls. Spot herds of elk and blankets of wildflowers. An awesome adventure on the highly scenic Elwood Pass Stagecoach Trail, at one time the single road from Pagosa Springs that led east over the Continental Divide.

Soar high above hidden canyons and valleys and experience the beauty of the Rocky Mountains from a whole new perspective, from the sky in a hot air balloon. Be part of the excitement as the beautiful, 120-foot-tall balloon rises from the ground and enjoy the sights and tranquility as you soar high above. A beautiful and unique experience.

Reservoir Hill is an outdoor treasure. Locals and visitors alike enjoy hiking, mountain biking, snow shoeing, and cross country skiing on the many trails traversing the hill.
Reservoir Hill is also home to an 18-hole, disc golf course. Located next to the resort.

River Center Park is situated on the San Juan River on the east side of Pagosa Springs. In addition to river access, the park boasts two ponds that provide both fishing and ice skating dependent upon the season and conditions. Tables and barbecues provide great places to stop and picnic or just relax on one of the park benches and enjoy the park.

Located at the southern end of the riverwalk, Yamaguchi Park is bordered on the east by the San Juan River and has over a half-mile of sidewalks. Yamaguchi Park is the place to get out and get active. It features two small-scale climbing walls, “big-kids” play are, ‘little tykes” play area, skate park, gazebo, soccer fields, and basketball court. Follow the walking bridge take a left when you reach the San Juan River Walk.

One of Pagosa Springs’ oldest parks, Town Park straddles the San Juan River in the heart of downtown Pagosa Springs. You can access the park from the walking bridge at the resort and the San Juan River Walk. The site of many events, Town Park is by far one of the most popular parks in Pagosa Springs.

Centennial Park is located along the San Juan River Walk across the walking bridge at the resort. It is home to the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership and picnic tables near the river. There is also a beach play area in low water conditions for summer play along the river.