Pagosa Springs Summer Activities, Here’s 5 Ideas for Your Adventure Planning

What are 5 great things to do around Pagosa Springs, Colorado in the summer?

Plan your Pagosa Springs adventure. With an abundance of outdoor activities and natural attractions to enjoy during the summer months, we came up with five great things to do in and around Pagosa Springs.

Explore the San Juan National Forest: Surrounded by beautiful mountains and forest, Pagosa Springs is a perfect base to access the National Forest. Our favorite activities in the summer include mountain biking some of the great local trail systems, and hiking to some of the numerous waterfalls, hotsprings, and trout holes for fly fishing. Visit the Piedra River Trail and Turkey Springs Trail Systems for scenic vistas and local flora and fauna. Be sure to bring plenty of water, snacks, and protection from the elements! Keep your eyes on the weather. It can get very hot, and dry, or have high potential for lightning and thunderstorms.
Rafting and Tubing the San Juan River: Local outfitters can set you up with the right floating adventure for the season. Late spring/early summer typically offer the best whitewater rafting. The low-flow of the river during the hotter summer months is a great time to take a chill tube ride downriver. Beware that even at lower flows, some of the wave and rapid sections on the river can offer quite a thrill.
Visit Chimney Rock National Monument: Around a 20 minute drive west on HWY 550, the Chimney Rock National Monument is a significant ancestral Puebloan archeological site. You can explore these ancient ruins, and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area from atop the Chimney Rock Mesa. Dress for the elements and bring water!
Check out the Music Festivals and Events: Music enthusiasts, and festival lovers, Pagosa Springs has several events and festivals throughout the summer to keep you movin’ and groovin’. Some of the bigger festivals include the Pagosa Folk ‘N Bluegrass Festival, and the Four Corners Folk Festival. Come out for great live entertainment from local, national, and international artists in a wonderful outdoor setting. Aside from these bigger festivals, there are often live music events throughout the summer.
Visit the Hot Springs: Last on the list, but certainly not least…Pagosa Springs was founded on its world-renowned natural geothermal hotsprings! With energy generated from some of the world’s deepest geothermal springs, Pagosa’s hot springs are filled with minerals and natural energy. Many trust these springs for their therapeutic healing powers. From some public accessible spots along the river in town, including the Hippy-Dip, to Calming Waters, The Springs Resort, and the Overlook Hotsprings; there is a spot to get your soak on and experience the rejuvinating energy people have been seeking for ages now.