Shari Pierce – Page 4 – Explore Pagosa

Pagosa Country is a pretty place — no doubt about it.

We have mountains, meadows, rivers, lakes and more — scenery galore. It is the ultimate outdoor playground, year-round, and a surprising number of cultural opportunities exist.

It’s a place that’s easy to fall in love with.

But making a home, and a life, somewhere requires more than just pretty.

It likely requires not only establishing a residence and home life, but a work life as well — be it joining an existing business, relocating an existing business or, perhaps, starting a new business.

But, how do you go about creating that life in Pagosa Country?

What is here that would lead you to choose this as a place to live, and to do business?

What are the options for business? What kind of market exists here for your services or products? What kind of labor force exists that could support your enterprise? What is the state of the necessary infrastructure? What educational institutions exist to train workers? What support services are available to the owner of a business or light industry?

What opportunities exist for you and your family?

The Pagosa Springs Real Estate and Relocation Guide seeks to give you answers to many of your questions and, when the answer is not obvious, it directs you to sources that can give you what you need.

This publication results from a cooperative effort, with several area organizations and local government agencies contributing to the information in this guide.

The Pagosa Springs Real Estate and Relocation Guide was awarded first place at the Colorado Press Association’s annual convention with the judge commenting, “Every U.S. county should be so lucky as to have a re-location guide this helpful. In an exceptionally competitive field, this entry is the winner.”

When it comes time to make one of the most important decisions you face, know you will be welcome here in Pagosa Country — a great place to live, to raise a family and to do business.

Making the Move Read More »

Location

Archuleta County is located in southwest Colorado, situated at the junction of U.S. 160 and 84 at an elevation of 7,079 feet. The county seat, Pagosa Springs, is located 30 miles north of the New Mexico border, and 60 miles east of Durango. It is also near the Four Corners region where Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona meet.

Physical Description

Archuleta County is comprised of 872,960 acres. Only 34 percent of lands in Archuleta County are in private ownership. Tribal lands comprise 14.4 percent of the county. Most of the northern and eastern portions of the county (51.6 percent) are within the San Juan National Forest. There is a total of approximately 2.8 million acres of National Forest and Bureau of Land Management surrounding Archuleta County.

Population Archuleta County

Source: US Census Bureau State & County QuickFacts

2020 census — 13,359

Housing and Income

Median value owner-occupied housing — $314,400

Households — 5,858

Persons per household — 2.23

Per capita money income — $31,629

Median household income — $52,221

Persons in poverty — 9.4 percent

Geography

Land area (square miles) — 1,350

Persons per square mile — 8.9

Taxes

Sales and User Tax: 2.9 percent state, 4 percent county. County sales tax revenue is divided
between county and town.

Lodger’s Tax: A 4.9 percent tax is collected from the lodging industry in town limits. The county collects a 2 percent tax for lodging. Lodging tax is used for tourism promotion, among other things.

Primary Source of Town & County Revenue: Retail sales taxes, property taxes and charges for services.

Government

Town Government: www.pagosasprings.co.gov

Home Rule Municipality

Town council with elected mayor and six councilors elected for alternating four-year terms, town manager is appointed. Date of incorporation: 1891.

County Government: www.archuletacounty.org.

Three county commissioners elected for alternating four-year terms.

Media

Newspaper: The Pagosa Springs SUN

www.pagosasun.com, (970) 264-2100

Education

Archuleta School District 50 Joint Office (970) 264-2228, www.mypagosaschools.com

High School (970) 264-2231
Middle School, 5th-6th grades (970) 264-2256
Middle School, 7th-8th grades (970) 264-2794
Elementary School (970) 264-2229
San Juan Mountain School (970) 264-2231, ext. 9247

Pagosa Peak Open School (970) 317-2151

The Training Advantage (970) 264-5627

GOAL Academy (877) PRO-GOAL

Utilities

Electric

La Plata Electric Association (970) 247-5786, www.lpea.coop

Gas/Natural

Black Hills Energy (888) 890-5554, www.blackhillsenergy.com

Water

Pagosa Area Water & Sanitation (970) 731-2691, www.pawsd.org

Sanitation

Pagosa Area Water & Sanitation (970) 731-2691, www.pawsd.org

Town of Pagosa Springs, (970) 264-4151 www.pagosasprings.co.gov

Trash At Your Disposal (970) 731-4892

Elite Recycling & Disposal (970) 731-2012

Waste Management (970) 264-5622

County Transfer Station (970) 264-5660

Tourism & Business Development

Pagosa Springs Community Development Corp. www.pagosaspringscdc.org, (970) 264-2360

Pagosa Springs Area Chamber of Commerce www.pagosaspringschamber.com, (970) 264-2360

Pagosa Springs Area Tourism www.visitpagosasprings.com, (970) 585-1200 or (866) 438-4917

Pagosa Springs Official Visitor Guide™ www.explorepagosa.com, (970) 264-2100

Pagosa Springs Real Estate and Relocation Guide www.ExplorePagosa.com, (970) 264-2100

The Pagosa Springs SUN and PREVIEW wwwPagosaSUN.com, (970) 264-2100

Region 9 Economic Development District (970) 247-9621, www.scan.org

Fort Lewis College Small Business Development (970) 247-7009, http://sbdcfortlewis.org/

Related Website Links & Info

Association of Realtors – www.pagosaspringsrealtors.com

U.S. Postal Service – Hot Springs Boulevard, (970) 264-5440

U.S. Forest Service – Pagosa Ranger District Office (970) 264-2268, www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan

Colorado State University Extension Office – (970) 264-5931, www.archuleta.colostate.edu

Ruby Sisson Memorial Library – (970) 264-2209, pagosalibrary.org

Stevens Field Airport – (970) 731-3060, FBO (970) 731-2127, www.archuletacounty.org/45/Airport, AWOS frequency 127.175

Durango-La Plata County Airport, www.flydurango.com

Road Conditions

Colorado Department of Transportation

511 or (303) 639-1111, www.cotrip.org

Archuleta County Road Report

(970) 264-5555

New Mexico Road Report

(800) 432-4269, www.nmroads.com

About the Area Read More »

Where is Pagosa Springs?

Pagosa Springs sits at 7,079 feet in southwest Colorado at the base of the Continental Divide. Featuring rushing rivers and streams, lakes galore, hiking and biking trails, spectacular fall colors, ancient ruins, deep powder in the winter at nearby Wolf Creek Ski Area, incredible hunting, amazing wildlife, clean air and 3 million acres of National Forest surrounding the area, Pagosa Springs offers plenty of opportunities for our valued visitors, any time of year.

Who can I contact for info?

The Pagosa Springs Area Tourism website at www.visitpagosasprings.com will link you to the Visitor Center, or call their vacation line at (866) 438-4917. Visitor information can also be found at www.ExplorePagosa.com and www.PagosaSUN.com.

Keep up on the news and events with The Pagosa Springs SUN, the community’s weekly newspaper, with daily updates online at www.PagosaSUN.com.

What is it like at that altitude?

Regardless of physical fitness, acute mountain sickness can strike anyone not acclimated to Pagosa’s 7,000-foot elevation. To guard against altitude sickness:

• Drink three to four quarts of water per day.

• Avoid overexertion, while keeping caffeine and alcohol intake moderate for the first few days.

• Seek medical attention if persistent headache, fatigue, poor coordination or shortness of breath occur.

What is the weather like?

Archuleta County is located in the “Colorado Sunbelt,” just north of the New Mexico border and along the Western slope of the Continental Divide. This combination of high desert plateau and dramatic Rocky Mountains to the north and east creates an unusually mild climate compared with much of the surrounding Southwest. We are favored with some 300 days of sun each year, as well as four distinct seasons. With low wind and warm sunshine, residents can enjoy a variety of year-round recreational activities.

Average Temperatures and Precipitation:

Average Days of Sunshine: 300 per year

Annual Precipitation: 20.21 inches/year

Annual Snowfall: 101.4 inches/year

Month High Low Precipitation

Jan. 37.9°F 1.4°F 1.97”

Feb. 42.6°F 7.0°F 1.42”

Mar. 49.2°F 15.9°F 1.60”

Apr. 59.2°F 23.9°F 1.36”

May 68.3°F 30.2°F 1.20”

Jun. 78.3°F 36.3°F .95”

Jul. 83.1°F 45.2°F 1.88”

Aug. 80.7°F 4.6°F 2.52”

Sep. 74.3°F 36.6°F 1.85”

Oct. 63.7°F 26.3°F 2.29”

Nov. 49.7°F 15.4°F 1.39”

Dec. 39.6°F 5.0°F 1.78”

Is there a medical facility?

Pagosa Springs Medical Center includes a critical access hospital located at 95 S. Pagosa Blvd. The emergency room is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Phone (970) 731-3700. Dial 911 for emergency services.

There are multiple primary care clinics in the community offering a variety of services.

Important phone numbers:

EMERGENCIES DIAL “911” (Ambulance, EMT, Fire, Police)

Nonemergency ambulance, fire, EMT or Law Enforcement, dial (970) 731-2160

Emergency Medical Services (970) 731-5811

Pagosa Springs Medical Center (970) 731-3700

Pagosa Urgent Care (970) 372-0456

Axis Integrated Healthcare (970) 264-2104

Pagosa Springs Police Department (970) 264-4151, Ext. 228

Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office (970) 264-8430

Pagosa Fire Protection District (970) 731-4191

USFS Pagosa District Ranger (970) 264-2268

Pagosa Springs Town Hall (970) 264-4151

Archuleta County Commissioners (970) 264-8300

The Pagosa Springs SUN (970) 264-2100

Pagosa Springs Post Office (970) 264-5440

Senior Citizens Center (970) 264-2167

Ruby M. Sisson Memorial Library (970) 264-2209

Archuleta School District 50 Joint (970) 264-2228

Navajo Lake State Park (970) 883-2208

Airport Flight Base Operations (970) 731-2127

Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation (970) 731-2691

Black Hills Energy (888) 890-5554

La Plata Electric Association (970) 247-5786

The basics Read More »

Thank you for your interest in joining our community. Whatever has attracted you to this area — the scenery, the climate, the recreational activities or a specific job, we know you will find Pagosa Country to be a friendly, pleasant place to live, work and play.

The Pagosa Springs Real Estate and Relocation Guide has been developed to provide an abundance of pertinent information about the area.

Our community is surrounded by over 3 million acres of National Forest and wilderness areas. That means you will find a variety of outdoor activities here — hiking, biking, rafting, backcountry exploration, skiing, sledding, cross-country skiing, fishing, hunting and many others. You will also find other activities to keep you busy such as our charming shops, historic sites, museums, Chimney Rock National Monument and a variety of artisans.

Please indulge in the pleasure of soaking in our geothermally heated waters. The giant spring in town issues forth from a mighty aquifer, providing Pagosa Country with some of the most relaxing and restorative waters anywhere in the world.

There is also an abundance of networking opportunities and special events to enhance the work and living environment for residents and business owners.

Members of our community are actively involved in many volunteer, leadership and business ventures.

Whether a home-based business or a growth company, Pagosa Springs has the resources available to help you succeed.

Archuleta School District, along with alternative educational options, offers many diverse programs to all students, including distance-learning opportunities.

The area’s hospital, Pagosa Springs Medical Center, operates a 24/7 emergency room, lab and diagnostic services, diagnostic imaging and mammography exams, cancer care, a surgical staff, orthopedic surgery, primary care physicians and more.

Look through these pages and learn for yourself — Pagosa Springs is a great place to live, work, create, move or expand your business, raise a family or retire.

Welcome to Pagosa Country.

Welcome Read More »

Getting Here From There

Stevens Field Airport

Archuleta County’s Stevens Field, located just 3 miles west of downtown Pagosa Springs, is one of the most scenic airports around.

In addition to beauty, the airport boasts a fully lit asphalt runway that is 100 feet wide and 8,100 feet long. That runway has aircraft weight capacities of 70,000 pounds for dual-wheel gear and 59,000 pounds for single-wheel gear. Flight safety at the high-altitude, general aviation airport is reinforced with a Precision Approach Path Indicator system.

The airport has seen a great deal of improvement over the years. In 2006, workers widened and resurfaced Runway 10/19 and built a new fixed-base operations building at midfield to provide fuel and services to local and visiting aircraft. In 2008, a new 3,000-foot parallel taxiway was constructed. In 2013, Archuleta County acquired additional snow removal equipment solely to be used at the airport. Alongside the other improvements, new hangars have appeared, an Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) has been installed, and the airport identifier became KPSO.

In keeping with its commitment to Archuleta County and Stevens Field, the Federal Aviation Administration also completed and published a GPS instrument approach for pilot use during nighttime and low-visibility landings.

In 2015, nearly $6 million was spent to extend the parallel taxiway and complete other associated projects, further increasing the efficiency of aircraft movement and safety.

Those improvements have not only increased safety, but have also helped solidify the airport’s status as an economic driver for the community. According to an Economic Impact Study completed by the airport’s advisory committee, for every dollar Archuleta County invests in the airport, the county receives a return of $10.86.

The airport property also boasts a private, on-site maintenance shop in one of the hangars.

For more information on the airport, visit www.archuletacounty.org. For specific airport management questions or concerns, call the airport manager at (970) 731-3060.

The AWOS system is available on frequency 127.175, or by phone at (970) 731-0365.

Fixed-Base Operator

For aviation services or to visit Avjet Corporation, the fixed-base operator, travel 3 miles west of town, then approximately 1 mile northwest on Piedra Road (CR 600). Turn right (northeast) on Cloman Boulevard and proceed to 61 Aviation Court.

The FBO offers a number of amenities, including restrooms, telephone, shower facilities, a flight planning room, pilot snooze room, Internet, vending machines, concierge and catering services, coffee, a lounge area, heated hangar and more. Avjet also provides fuel, Avgas and Jet-A rated fuel.

For more information about these and other airport services, call Avjet at (970) 731-2127.

La Plata County Airport

The Durango-La Plata County Airport offers daily service with multiple airlines. The airport offers a full range of services within the terminal to make your visit comfortable. The airport has short- and long-term parking, full rental car services and shuttle/taxis.

The airport is located 60 miles from Pagosa Springs at the intersection of Airport Road and County Road 309A, approximately 1 mile from County Road 309.

For more information about flights and ancillary services, visit www.flydurango.com.

Mileage from Pagosa

Durango, Colo. 61 miles

Cortez, Colo. 104 miles

Denver, Colo. 277 miles

Colorado Springs, Colo. 242 miles

Farmington, N.M. 101 miles

Santa Fe, N.M. 160 miles

Albuquerque, N.M. 212 miles

Phoenix, Ariz. 514 miles

Oklahoma City, Okla. 699 miles

Dallas, Texas 813 miles

Getting Here From There Read More »

Real Estate & Home Guide

Owning property in Pagosa Springs may inspire you to think outside the box

Strong real estate sales across Pagosa Country have recently led to some unique and creative development projects proposed by property owners.

Those projects range from creating new business in the community to others helping to add to the inventory of much-needed workforce housing.

The Pagosa River Domes project includes 14 individual geodesic lodging domes to be constructed overlooking the San Juan River just east of town along U.S. 160.

The project was approved by the Pagosa Springs Town Council in July. One of the domes will be ADA accessible.

The project will also include a 1,500 square foot hospitality building equipped with a diner and also a railroad car for dining. Each dome will be approximately 426 square feet, built on wooden decks. Domes will have access to the Riverwalk trail when a trail extension is completed.

Exterior lighting for local projects is required to be night-sky compliant allowing for neighbors to be able to gaze at the stars free from light pollution. City dwellers are in awe of the breathtaking night sky views in Pagosa Country.

A first-of-its-kind project for Pagosa Country consisting of six duplexes or 12 container homes has been proposed for Majestic Drive. Across the United States, container housing is gaining in popularity. There is even a series on HGTV featuring unique modern homes built from shipping containers.

Another popular HGTV show features tiny homes. This year, the Pagosa Springs Town Council approved plans for Legacy Village, a tiny home village off of Alpha Drive near Walmart. The proposed village includes 50 or less tiny home lots, community gardens, fire pits with seating, grill and seating areas, a hammock area, hiking trail, storage and laundry areas and a must-have for most locals will be a dog park.

New rental cabins have also received approval for 151 South 5th St. in downtown Pagosa Springs. A unique feature of this property will be geothermal-heated parking and sidewalks, which means no shoveling snow. This property will also connect to the existing downtown Riverwalk trail.

The Pagosa Springs Planning Commission gave the green light to a density bonus request for the Pagosa Inn and Suites Residential Apartment Conversion, which would allow for converting a lodging facility into 98 rental apartments if approved by town council.

Some people have purchased unique Pagosa Country properties and added their own personal touches. One of the more popular homes listed on Airbnb is the Wonder Haus, which is a “passive solar home” with a star-gazing observation tower.

The Wonder Haus has been featured on the Netflix series “World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals” and prides itself on being “intentionally unconventional.”

The Gazette in Colorado Springs featured the vacation property and noted that “Conde Nast named it one of the best Airbnb stays in Colorado. The clothing retailer Anthropologie called about getting photos there for its fall catalog.”

The home’s designer and builder, Jim Milstein, informed The Pagosa Springs SUN, after the Gazette’s article was reprinted locally, that “Asterisk is the house’s true name. It is so called because its floor plan of six barrel vaults radiating from a common center resembles an asterisk.”

He also pointed The SUN to an NPR feature, which reads, “Listener Jim Milstein of Pagosa Springs, Colo., built a stone tower. When he strums the steel guard rails inside, the parts of the cylindrical structure vibrate, making the whole thing a musical instrument.”

Living in Pagosa Country’s picturesque mountain setting inspires many to think outside of the box and create new beginnings. Moving to the region might just inspire you to do the same.

Family Fun

Pagosa Springs

Retail Therapy

Real Estate & Home Guide Read More »

Retail Therapy

Exploring the local character through shopping

Since long before it was incorporated as a town, Pagosa Springs, and the whole of Archuleta County, has experienced the booms and busts associated with numerous industries, including trading between Hispanics and Native American tribes, prospectors seeking gold, lumber mills and railroads. Over time, the flags of several nations have flown over the area, and multiple Native American tribes have inhabited the region.

But, through it all, Pagosa Springs stood firm, not falling to the same fate as many towns now listed as ghost towns.

Instead, Pagosa grew into a mountain town better known to many for its natural resources and wealth of public lands than its former industries.

Thanks to the varied history and natural beauty and resources in Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County, Pagosa — the county seat — now not only stands firm, but is packed with character, much of which is reflected in the goods you’ll find for sale throughout town.

Shopping in the Pagosa Springs area, though, can be a treat in and of itself.

From cabin decor to signs that embody your views on life, natural products of all sorts, on-trend apparel and quirky T-shirts, unique pajamas, western wear and goods that epitomize the western way of life, handmade jewelry with a southwestern flair, antiques, art and seasonal sporting goods, you’ll find it and more in Pagosa Springs.

And where you find the goods might surprise you. For example, you’ll find coffee shops and what you might think is a hardware store that carry things like home goods, clothes, toys and more.

And that’s part of the fun: heading into a shop not knowing what might be around the next corner or what perfect gift you’ll find for a loved one (or for yourself!). Even if you’ve been to a shop before, it’s likely to be an adventure next time, too, since business owners like to keep things fresh and new. Or, in the case of antique stores, something you’ve never seen before or haven’t seen in years.

And, in true small-town style, you won’t often find the people working the stores (often the owners themselves) simply waiting at the register for you to bring them money. Instead, they’re often striking up conversations, finding that shirt in just the right size for someone, or letting someone know that if they don’t have what you want, where in town will. In short, they’re usually going above and beyond to make the shopping experience the best it can be for their customers.

And while you’re walking in between shops, you can admire and explore parts of Pagosa’s past — like the former hotel that now houses shops and offices and the historic movie theater — just check for signs around the buildings indicating their historical significance.

Shopping in Pagosa, like much of our county’s history and current character, is about exploration — seeing what’s around the next corner.

Family Fun

Pagosa Springs

Retail Therapy

Retail Therapy Read More »

Flavor of pagosa

Kick back with dinner and live
entertainment after a day of fun

Now that you’ve spent the day playing in the snow, staying warm in area geothermal pools, shopping or whatever else you’ve found to do and explore in Pagosa Country, are you looking for a nice bite to eat and some evening entertainment?

In addition to being host to a number of delightful eating establishments, the Pagosa Springs area is home to many talented performers, ranging from youth just polishing their chops to Grammy winners and award-winning actors, making it easy to plan a night out featuring dinner and live entertainment.

The variety of entertainment options make it easy to vary your experiences during your stay, allowing you to have some nights where you combine a dinner followed by a show and others where your apres-ski time is spent kicking back at a bar or laid-back restaurant featuring live musicians, DJs or karaoke.

If you’d like to grab a quick bite before kicking back with some live entertainment, depending on when you plan your trip to Pagosa, you may be lucky enough to catch a show put on by one of Pagosa’s theater groups (we have both an award-winning theater company and a decades-old community theater group who put on regular productions).

Or, you could be lucky enough to catch one of the Pagosa Springs Choral Society’s annual Christmas concerts or another local nonprofit holding a fundraiser that makes for a great night out with a live band or storied performer.

Too, several venues around town work to regularly feature local musical talent, dancing and more.

Perhaps you’ll catch Tim Sullivan, an award-winning singer/songwriter who’s played venues such as Carnegie Hall and with the likes of Vince Gill and Willie Nelson. Maybe you’ll catch Bob Hemenger, a saxophonist and local teacher who has played with people like Victor Wooten and Darrell Scott.

Or, you could also catch any number of business owners, retirees and more who rank as local favorites.

Several of the area’s restaurants and bars also seek to feature live entertainment several times a week, making dinner and entertainment a combination that’s typically easy to find and enjoy, with a wide variety of musical genres featured to suit your tastes.

If you’re more into letting loose by being the entertainment, watch for DJs to host karaoke nights and dance parties, and scope out restaurants and venues with a dance floor.

For more information on live entertainment happening during your stay, pick up a copy of The Pagosa Springs SUN, visit www.PagosaSUN.com or www.visitpagosasprings.com, ask a local for their suggestions, or just pop into a restaurant or bar — who knows what you might find.

Family Fun

Pagosa Springs

Retail Therapy

Flavor of Pagosa Read More »

Rest Your Head

Enhance your vacation experience with the
Pagosa Springs Visitor Center and Visit Pagosa Springs

The Pagosa Springs Visitor Center and Visit Pagosa Springs app are here to help you get the most out of your Pagosa Springs vacation.

Both sources will help you find information on lodging, restaurants, area activities and all things Pagosa Springs.

Located along the banks of the San Juan River just across the Hot Springs Boulevard bridge in downtown Pagosa Springs, the Visitor Center features picnic tables along the river, free Wi-Fi, free area maps, a wealth of area information and a genuinely local perspective.

A team of fantastic staff and volunteers are available daily to assist you in making the most of your visit. The Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., though the days and hours may be subject to change depending on local conditions. For after-hours information, multiple brochures are available outside.

The Visit Pagosa Springs app, available free for smartphones, can also provide information 24/7 and can help you with your vacation planning both before arriving and while you’re here. Visit Pagosa Springs also has a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You’ll also find different ways to explore the community.

There is a bike planter scavenger hunt year-round. Local businesses host flower planters that look like old bicycles. Follow the map in the app, keep track of the letters, unscramble the clue to complete the phrase, and spin the wheel for a chance at several awesome prizes.

For the adventurous youngsters, pick up a Kid’s Activity Book from a volunteer, with free crayons. Children who complete the activity book during their stay can redeem it for a fun and unique Pagosa Bear.

Free, reusable water bottles are available at the Visitor Center to help you stay hydrated on your adventures.

You can reach the Visitor Center by calling (970) 585-1200 or (800) 252-2204. To learn more about Pagosa Springs, visit www.visitpagosasprings.com or download the Visit Pagosa Springs app.

Family Fun

Pagosa Springs

Retail Therapy

Rest Your Head Read More »

Why So Much Snow?

The locals aren’t exaggerating— Pagosa Country really does have some of the best natural snow in Colorado, and the most of it!

If you don’t believe the local lore, check the stats; nearly every winter, an average of 39 feet falls on the area’s 12,000-foot alpine summits surrounding Wolf Creek Pass. One year, the total snowfall exceeded 75 feet.

There’s no question; this is the reason powder hounds love Wolf Creek Ski Area. No other Colorado ski mountain can predictably offer as much untracked powder and packed powder as Wolf Creek.

Meteorologists attribute Wolf Creek’s consistent snow accumulation to the ski area’s location within the San Juan Mountains and to numerous high peaks around Pagosa Springs.

According to weather experts, as relatively warm, subtropical moisture from the Pacific pushes east over the southwestern deserts and eventually rises up to surmount the southern San Juan Mountains, it cools and further condenses, thus creating additional moisture. Because colder air holds less moisture, heavy winter precipitation falls in the form of light and powdery snow. The surrounding topography actually funnels this precipitation — referred to as “upslope weather” — to the ski area, thus producing some of the most and best snow anywhere in Colorado.

For winter sports enthusiasts, this means world-class skiing on the runs at Wolf Creek Ski Area, and outstanding cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling throughout Pagosa Country.

Family Fun

Pagosa Springs

Retail Therapy

Why So Much Snow? Read More »