PROJ00515 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I southeast. U.S. Highway 160 passes through Pagosa Springs in an east-west direction and U.S. 84 provides access from the south. pagosa Springs area is served by Stevens Airport which has a 7,700 foot long runway. No commercial air service is available to Pagosa Springs except by charter service. 1.3.2 Economy The name "Pagosa Springs" originated with the Ute Indians, who called it "Hot Springs pagosa," or healing waters. The town's livelihood is predominately dependent upon recreation and tourism. Pagosa Springs offers many attractions to both winter and summer tourists, with summer as the primary tourist season. Attractions include the Chimney Rock Ruins, 20 miles to the west, offering tours of the Indian dwellings. Another tourist attraction is the Great Hot' Springs, which brings the mysticism of the healing powers of hot mineral baths. Good spring fishing is available at several lakes including Echo, Buckles, and Harris. Access for hiking into San Juan National Forest is available to back-packers. Navaj 0 Reservoir lies 30 miles to the southwest and provides all forms of waterborne recreation. Wolf Creek Pass provides a scenic route across the Continental Divide through the San Juan National Forest. Wolf Creek Ski Area lies 20 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs and has an annual snowfall of 435 inches. 1.3.3 Climate The elevation of Pagosa Springs is 7,108 feet above sea level and has a climate which is typical of the high mountain valleys in the region. Warm days and cool nights are experienced during the summer. Average annual maximum and minimum temperatures are 880F and -250F, respectively. Winters can be rather severe. Mean annual temperature for Pagosa Springs is 42.30F, with a variation from 23.90F average for December to 63.80F for July. Average annual precipitation is 19.5 inches, of which approximately 7-inches occurs as winter snowfall (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1970 - 1981). 1-2