This joyous roadside hike is perfect for people of all ages. It's short, and even amateur…read moreboot-strappers from the lowlands or sea level, who routinely struggle at altitude, should be able to make it up and down. Mountain lions do call the area home, as is the case across the high country. What was different here was the size of kitty potty found on the trail. It was 18 inches long. Translation: very big cat. With 4,000 puma statewide, for me, by way of trail signs, this has been a pretty active region. One of the best visuals came one winter while snowshoeing in a remote, deep snowscape. I followed the extended gait of a fellow traveler, in five to ten foot snow, thoroughly enjoying the easily identifiable stride set by a very large mountain lion, the top of the snow constantly disrupted by the sashay of its tail on the rising and falling terra of rolling hills and high alpine meadow.

Nice place with good views and a moderate hike. Ample parking and best of all, it's free!read more

Had a great experience picking up my access pass! Everyone was so friendly and knowledgeable. I…read moreappreciated that I was able to bring in my printed file to pick up a pass in person.

The most enchanting National Forest I've visited in 2021. I hiked to the Rainbow Hot Springs. The…read moreRainbow Hot Springs is a 10 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Pagosa Springs. Also located in the San Juan National Forest. The forest occupies land in Archuleta, Conejos, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Rio Grande, San Miguel and San Juan Counties!! They have plenty of campgrounds (with friendly campground hosts) and nearby Horseback Riding opportunities. I came here with a good friend of mine, as we visited South Fork, CO. The weather was perfect in May of 2021 and I needed a Chilly Mini for my neck. We spotted some gorgeous waterfalls and really unique plants. San Juan appeared to have had a forest fire in the last 5 years, because we definitely witnessed some aftermath. Lots of old, dead and burned down tree trunks. The trail is fairly easy, a little rocky, but such a great cardio workout for your calves. We spotted some wonderful rivers that kept my friend and I very cool.

Beautiful RV park. SUPER quiet. Almost feels like a "seniors only" location. Staff is VERY…read morefriendly. The only downfall is there is ZERO. internet. I know, I know....we are "glamping" but I need my TV shows at night and to pay my bills online. Other than that....gorheous snd clean!!! Bathrooms CLEAN! Laundry room CLEAN! a sink and folding table would be awesome though.

We arrived at this RV park and tried to book a spot through the website, but it didn't work because…read morewe wanted to book for the same day. There were plenty of available spots, but the administrator, Eric, refused to let us book one because our vehicle didn't meet the type requirements. Terrible service. We do not recommend this park.

A landmark and solid stop along any journey through SoCo. Worthy of a detour if you're in the area.read more

I get so tired of reviews on our country's national treasures and history like this I have to give…read morea resounding 5 stars. NOTE drive to top is not hard. If you have ever been to mountains or skied it's easy. It's a gravel mountain road. To clarify as I was confused there is a parking lot w small visitor center aka cabin. This is where you pay your fee. They are building a new super nice visitor center to open next year. The ranger here at base was so nice. I mean amazingly and went out of her way to explain all. From the first parking area you drive to the upper parking lot which is the base from which you hike to top. I was fine at 62 and not in perfect shape to get to top. It's a gorgeous view and the ranger/helper? at top was wordy but very knowledgeable. Now that we live in Albuquerque will definitely go back as it's a short drive under 30 minutes from Pagosa springs. Final thought those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it

This hike was suggested to me by several friends who went to school in the area. It is pretty easy…read moreto find and parking wasn't too horrible. As much hype as this trail got before we did it, I can tell you that we all agree that this might be our favorite hike in Colorado so far. The trail is so lush and covered in wild flowers, knowing that it could have been the time of year, too. I loved that a lot it went through wooded areas before opening up above the tree line. It seemed that once we got above the tree line that there were amazing views everywhere we looked. We saw some mountain bikers but the trail wasn't too crowded overall. The summit is just under 13,000 feet but it is a great hike to get out of Durango for the morning and then to enjoy the afternoon back in town. Here are the directions to get there: Head North on Hwy 550 past Purgatory toward Silverton. Coal Bank Pass is 35 miles north of Durango, 13.5 miles south of Silverton, on Route 550. There is a parking area and restroom facility on the east side of the road at Coal Bank Pass (but don't park there). Just north of that, turn onto a road on the west side(opposite the rest area) which goes to the Pass Creek TH in under 200 yards.Slow down after mile marker 56 (it's between mm 56 and 57), you will see a rest area on the right and about 30 yards from that there is a small dirt road on the left - turn in there. It is hard to see, so slow down. Park at the end of the road on the side of the cul-de-sac. You will see the trail head heading north, and start there. Make sure you have plenty of water, a sweatshirt, and some rain gear. It should take 4 hours to casually hike up and back.

This trail is amazing, the wildflowers were incredible. It's a medium challenging trail up until…read morethe base of the mountain, then it's shale all the way to the top. Amazing views of mountain ranges even if you just make it to the fields. I went late July beginning of August and it was just the perfect temperature and I still can't get over all the wildflowers!

Mesa Verde National park is a location where you will be able to connect with our ancestors through…read morean echo of time. The way they lived, what they built, what they left behind is a reminder of what we have forgotten. Through these trips and sites that we are fortunate to experience we can honor their memory and continue the journey changed.

I'm already planning a second visit here just due to the sheer amount of things there are to do and…read moresee. Wetherill Mesa was closed due to construction when I visited, and the season for the pueblo tours was not open yet, so that's already on my to do list. Exploring Chapin Mesa took an entire day to drive the loop, do some hiking, and read about all the different artifacts that were uncovered. I liked how there were displays about the different stages of housing and the evolution to the amazing cliff dwellings that the national park is known for. Definitely bring your binoculars to get a better look at the structures!

So a local told me this was the best view in town. At the top you get a view of Downtown Durango…read moreand the mountains. At four hundred steps you get some benches. Keep going to five hundred and you are near the end reaching the college. A nice way to keep off the freshman weight gain. On the way up an elderly woman was coming down. I saw her again towards the bottom to do it over again. I smiled and said, "Once is not enough?" She replied, "Not quite." There's hope for us all. There is another option to go on the dirt switchback path. The view going up isn't very exciting until you reach towards the top, but if your goal is exercise, get stepping.

Durango was never on my radar until my fellow hikers recommended it. It is a quaint city and this…read moreriver trail is nice for a stroll or a 9+ mile bike ride. It is mostly in good condition with about 20 percent with cracks that will give you a jolt. The final down river section has two modest inclines. Nice crossovers over wooden bridges. No bathrooms. Thank goodness for Albertson's right off the trail. Parking around Downtown is metered. About five-six blocks away from the river is free street parking. The white water launch park (in one of the photos) has a parking lot with a steam engine locomotive. Free or not I am unsure. Placards along the trail to note the development of the city. Stop for lunch in one of the many options on Main St.

Beautiful trail. A must-see if visiting or living in Durango. This trail is long so we started at…read morethe main point where there is a park with swings and benches.

Beautiful lake for boating, fishing or hiking around. Great area for adventure. Have been coming…read morehere for 48 years.

I live here. It's great, quiet, beautiful, lots of hikes, water sports. Nice people, locals and…read morevisitors.

Just super. There are deer and a bunch of nice birds. There are several gay wolves on premesis…read morekissing

Excellent hike! Would definitely recommend this hike for everyone who is able bodied. It is listed…read moreas an easy hike on All Trails, but it does have some challenging little parts. And it is not accessible, so people with mobility disabilities may have trouble. It is beautifully scenic even with the beetle kill. Love the water falls and river as well as the wildlife. A great adventure for kids too- something new to explore around each bend.