We weren't quite ready to leave Colorado, so when a campground guest told us about Pagosa Springs, we figured we might as well make another quick stop before we left. We drove an hour east of Durango and camped overnight in the driveway at Abney's Place, a Boondocker's Welcome host. We enjoyed a view of the mountains and playing with Sunny, a sweet dog with a playful wagging tail and a big ol' smile. Our host gave us a tour of his greenhouse where he grows pot to make medicinal cookies for the old folks in the neighborhood. Meeting new and diverse people makes for fun stays, but we still can't help but chuckle over Brickhead asking why it always smelled like skunk there. (It did...so bad! LOL!) But that was only part of the fun...let's get into the town of Pagosa Springs. For centuries and maybe even thousands of years, people have come to Pagosa Springs for its healing waters. Ute legend tells of an incurable illness that struck the people. The Chiefs prayed at the riverbank for help, and the next morning, where the council fire burned the night before, there rose a pool of bubbling water. When the people drank and bathed in it, they were healed. The small town of Pagosa Springs is home to the largest hot spring in the area and the deepest geothermal aquifer in the world (certified at 1,002 feet deep.) The town has made the most of this gift from Mother Nature, using the multitude of springs to heat many downtown businesses and keep sidewalks clear of snow during the winter. There are three spas in town, some more expensive and larger than others, where visitors can bask in warm natural pools, containing 13 feel-good minerals. The most highly recommended spa is the luxurious Springs Resort, which spans across the river walk as the main focus of town, with loads of natural springs and pools and lodging choices for those wanting overnight accommodations. We were thinking that the Springs Resort sounded like a great romantic get-away, but not so much a family destination, and--well, I'm often cheap and didn't want to spend $54 per person for a soak--so we opted for the FREE natural hot springs located on the side of the river right across from the luxurious spa. We were the only people there for the majority of two and half hours, so we had our pick of five pools. The kids kept going between the steaming hot pools and the river water and we didn't have to control or contain them as much as we would have in the spas! When we needed more peace, we'd just move to a different pool! It was a perfect afternoon soak. Afterwards we walked through the town a bit and visited some shops. One brand new shop, High Altitude Pagosa, just opened up, offering boho clothing, designer purses, hair feathering, and...axe throwing! We talked to the owners for a while and found out they are homeschooling, hiking, and RVing people like us (but more hard core, backpacking 1200 miles of the Appalachian trail!) The store is the perfect mix of both of their personalities. Brickhead had the time of his life axe throwing. I mean...what do we say about Pagosa Springs? The short time we were there, we had a blast. Sixty-five percent of the local land is either national forest or Ute Reservation, which makes for all the year around outdoor recreation you could ask for. The people there seem to be free spirits, breaking the mold and doing what makes them happy, making good use of legalized recreational marijuana. Oh. my. goodness. LOL! Just kidding. Most likely it's the hot spring minerals that put them in a great mood. Yeah. Probably that. Either way, it's a fun little town. Someday I'm coming back for that romantic get-away.
2 Comments
Maxine Holmes
11/3/2022 10:36:04 am
Wow ! That would be great soaking in those hot springs and seeing all the sights in that area . Amazing !
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Joni Ramsey
11/3/2022 02:19:28 pm
The host we stayed with said we were the first people he’s known to do the “free” springs. Kinda surprised us! They were a lot of fun!
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