Pagosa Springs sits in a large valley, cradled by a majestic backdrop of the San Juan Mountains and the Weminuche Wilderness, and is blessed with the San Juan River that provides the lifeblood of the valley and flows through the center of the town.

Pagosa Springs is surrounded by 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.

There are many lakes surrounding Pagosa, ranging from small mountain lakes to large man made ones, like Navajo Lake southwest of Pagosa about 35 miles. A trip north of town about 20 miles takes you to Williams Lake at the base of the San Juan Mountains. There are several campgrounds available, and will accommodate everyone in tents to class A RVs.

Enroute to Williams Lake, you will pass over the Piedra River. There is a well marked trail leading from the bridge over the Piedra River that leads you into a valley that is breathtakingly beautiful. Not long after you begin the trail, you will encounter what can only be desribed as a "rain forest", sheltered by the deep gorge the river has cut through the rock. With the summer heat, it's refreshing to see ferns growing alongside the trail, with the river gliding by and the clear blue sky above you. It's an easy hike, and families will have little problem taking children into this wilderness experience.

Waterfall Viewing There be treasure buried at the bottom of a waterfall in Pagosa Springs. According to lore, a chest of gold was buried beneath Treasure Falls by French fur trappers. Regardless of the validity of this tall tale, the views of water tumbling nearly 100 feet over rocks and a light mist kissing cheeks of travelers are wealth enough.

Treasure Falls is found along Highway 160, 15 miles from the San Juan River Bridge. Views of the fall are spectacular from the road, but if you want to get a bit closer, take the path just off Hwy. 160 leading to the base of the falls. Including Treasure Falls, there are at least 25 cascades in and around Pagosa Springs, be sure to check in at the welcome center for information on the location of others.

The Springs Resort The world's deepest hot spring is found in Pagosa at The Springs Resort. Thermally heated, mineral-rich water bubbles up from the mother spring and is piped into 20 elegant pools. Sunrises seen from any of the pools provide an ethereal experience, especially during the winter months. While the pools are more than 100 F., the ambient temperature may hover around 30 F. Mist licks off the surface of the hot springs and vapors rise to obscure all but the blended reds, oranges and yellows of a sunrise. During the summer months, hot spring soakers can look over the edges of the pools to the San Juan River, just feet away, and watch as rafters float down it to the backdrop of downtown's main street.

Chimney Rock Archeological Area Almost 1,000 years ago the ancestors of Pueblo Indians farmed this area and lived among these buttes. While archaeologists have located 91 permanent structures, they estimate that more than 200 homes covered this site at the height of its existence.

Guided hikes lead visitors to excavated sites including the Great Kiva, Ridge House and Great Pueblo. While the specific structures and the immediate environment are fragile, preservation efforts have so far helped to keep this national treasure intact for future generations.

In 2006, the rangers of Chimney Rock began offering full moon and summer solstice tours. Watch an American Indian flute player serenade visitors under the muted light of a full moon, or experience the sunrise over the San Juan Mountains and learn about the importance of the sun's cycles to the area's first inhabitants, the Ancestral Puebloans.