Vacation Spotlight: Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park 

The privately owned Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park features only animals native to the area.  Most animals are rescued injured in the wild. Others are former pets whose owners realized keeping exotic animals as pets wasn’t the best idea! The park is very small although it’s nice to see animals roaming around in their natural environment and well taken care of. Gorgeous mountain scenery surrounds the park. It is a relaxing place in general to spend an hour or so out in the beautiful countryside.

Beautiful countryside surrounds the park, making it a great place to spend an hour or so out in nature. I would recommend a visit for the views alone.

Where to eat

If there is any downside to vacationing here, it is definitely the lack of dining options. In a way this is a good thing because it keeps the congestion down and the lack of businesses means more beautiful surroundings. If you are looking for more upscale dining, I recommend taking the drive over to Durango, which is home to a wonderful downtown with lots of great local restaurants. In terms of Pagosa Springs dining, here are a few good restaurants we dined at:

2 Chicks and a Hippy – Great little breakfast place with a nice outdoor patio. Affordable pricing, lots of allergy friendly substitutions, friendly staff

Kip’s Grille – Casual Mexican restaurant with a lively outdoor patio. Great Grilled Shrimp tacos!

River Point Coffee House – Local coffee house offering great views of the springs via the outdoor patio. Coffee is rich and flavorful without a burnt aftertaste. Lots of homemade breakfast choices including homemade Quiche and pastries. Great place to grab a quick bite before relaxing at The Springs. Update: Now Root House Coffee.

Higher Grounds Coffee House – Great local coffeehouse offering a nice rustic ambiance. Delicious espresso drinks and tasty mochas. Fresh baked pastries daily and a small menu of healthy breakfast and lunch options round out the menu.

Also if you plan on visiting Durango for the train ride, check out The Irish Embassy Pub and Jean Pierre Bakery

A train ride of a lifetime is just an hour away

In addition to the many wonderful activities & attractions in the immediate area, Durango is just an hour’s drive away. While you are here, you absolutely must plan for a ride on the gorgeous Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

This is without a doubt one of the most stunningly beautiful train ride you will ever take. Plan your visit in the fall and you will be treated to the same wonderful views plus amazing golden foliage. This is a half-full day activity, so be sure to make reservations in advance and block out at least half a day – trust me, it’s well worth it!

A few pics from a fall ride – take a look at the post above to see more! We didn’t plan at exact peak, but the aspens covering the mountains were still quite gorgeous.

Winter fun

If your visit happens to fall during the winter, you still have plenty of opportunity for outdoor fun. Both Pagosa and Durango offer lots of recreational activities for the cold snowy months. First off, soaking in the hot springs is so much better when surrounded by a snowy, wintry setting.

Dog sledding, ice skating, hikes to frozen waterfalls, sleigh rides, cross country skiing & snowshoeing, and ice fishing are some fun ways to pass a winter’s day. Wolf Creek Ski Area is just over 20 miles away and known for having “the most snow in Colorado” as the resort sees over 400 inches of non man-made snow per season!

Overall, there’s lot to do year-round – it just depends on your personal sports interests. I recommend combining activities in both areas to enjoy the best-of-the-best. One thing’s for sure -a visit to the hot springs, a hike within the San Juan National Forest, and a ride on the enchanting Durango Silverton Railroad should definitely top your must-do list while vacationing in the Four Corners.