Pagosa Springs - Part One

We're back from our jaunt to Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The hotel we stayed at, The Springs, did offer Internet access - at $10/day. We love you guys who read this blog, but we're also cheap and $10 is $10.

Pagosa Springs is located in Southwest Colorado between Durango and Alamosa. It's situated along the San Juan River which has some of the best trout fishing in the country. And, it is surrounded by the majestic San Juan Mountains.

What gave Pagosa Springs its start are the hot springs along the river. Pagosa is a combination of two Ute Indian words - Pah - meaning 'water' - and Osah - meaning 'boiling.' It was a sacred, healing place to both the Ute and Navajo Indians before the settlers came. Today, Pagosa Springs is a tourist town, but it is still very much a small, ranch-based community as well.

The Pagosa Springs area has some of the most beautiful horse country you can find anywhere.




We stayed at the hotel that is associated with The Springs. The picture to the left is Betty sitting at the fountain with The Springs bath house in the rear. People can come and, for a daily fee, enjoy the hot springs. If you stay at the hotel as we did you can have access to the springs any time you want. The picture below was taken from downtown Pagosa Springs. The bath house is to the left, the hot springs in the center, and our hotel on the right.



Here are some more pictures of the hot springs. There are over a dozen different pools with the water temperatures ranging from 96 degrees all the way up to 109 degrees. We liked the pools that were between 102 and 106 degrees. For those hardy enough, there are steps down to the river where you can cool off at a bone-chillin' 46 degrees.




Besides the hot springs, Pagosa Springs is a good place for outdoor activities, especially on the river. This first picture is a rafting group coming down the San Juan River.



Here's a picture of a young man working the rapids in his small kayak (this is for my brother-in-law and his sons, our nephews, who are avid and experienced river folk).


There are lots of great hiking trails in the area and, in tomorrow's post, we will share pictures from a great hike we took along the Piedra River.

Today is May 30 and, if today's your birthday, you share your day with: Wynonna Judd (great country singer), Meredith McRae (actress- "Petticoat Junction"), Gale Sayers (Chicago Bears running back), Benny Goodman (muscian, band leader), and Mel Blanc ("What's up, Doc?" - voice of Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, and Porky Pig)

"That's all folks!"