Pagosa Springs CO / Wolfcreek

[Chief T]

Heading to Pagosa Springs/Wolfcreek area next weekend. Any recommendations for sites/trails, except for the Hot Springs, would be greatly appreciated. Staying 3 nights at the Bruce Spruce RV Park.

Safe and happy travels.

[Maman325]

Following this thread for future information. :-)

[Ilovemywife]

Be careful going up and down Wolf Creek Pass. Too many people ride their brakes the entire time which puts them at risk of losing their brakes. It amazes me how many people don't have the most basic sense of how their vehicle works and its limitations. I'm more worried about someone running into me from behind at Wolf Creek Pass and spent a fair amount of time looking at my rear view mirrors when I drive it.

There was a fatal accident on Wolf Creek Pass VERY recently caused by overheated brakes and the driver with the runaway motorhome hit among other vehicles, a truck towing a camper. https://alamosanews.com/article/fail...of-fatal-crash

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON'T RIDE YOUR DAMN BRAKES THE WHOLE WAY DOWN A COLORADO MOUNTAIN. IT CAN KILL YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE.

[fanrgs]

Don't miss taking a tour at Chimney Rock National Monument, Colorado's newest. It is about 15 miles west of Pagosa at US 160 and CO 151. For a dawn photo and description of Chimney Rock, see my blog HERE.

[1A Camper]

You can do Marshall Pass Rd, it is all gravel but in good shape, did it in late July.
At the pass/top you can do the Colorado Trail in either direction. Marshall Pass Rd (200) is an old narrow railroad track. We saw a herd of 19 Rocky Mountain Sheep on the road. We also had a lot of birds.
Take 285 south out of Poncha Spring for about 8 miles to 200 you will turn right/west onto 200. Marshall Pass Rd will come out to US 50 about 30 miles from Poncha Spring. I think the East side is the best viewing. The first half is the best.
The aspens are great in the area and you may be hitting the peak time of color.

Looks like I got my towns mixed up, sorry.

[67L48]

Originally Posted by Ilovemywife

[...] PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON'T RIDE YOUR DAMN BRAKES THE WHOLE WAY DOWN A COLORADO MOUNTAIN. IT CAN KILL YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE.

One of the reasons I drool over diesels. It's not just the power/torque to get up our 10,000' passes, it's the robust engine/exhaust brakes that help going down the other side.

Using gearing and brakes with gasoline 1/2 tons isn't super comfortable for me.

[Ilovemywife]

I UTV Marshall Pass 3-4 times each summer. Marshall Pass is quite a ways from South Fork.

If you are up for a drive towards that area, here is what I would do:
a. Visit secret Vietnam War Memorial-only publicly funded memorial on public land. It is called Soldier Stone and not advertised by the Forestry Department....was secret for many years until dirt bike riders discovered it and posted videos on youtube.
b. ATV/UTV/Jeep Marshall Pass and visit old gold mines in Bonanza
c. Get nekkid at the Hot Springs at the Oriental Land Trust Company-it is an awesome experience!
d. Visit Salida.

[CaptnJohn]

Wolfe Creek Pass is not the worst in the world but can be ugly. Hit it one early June pulling a 43' 5er. Once was enough. The snow did not help either. C McCall wrote a song about WP Pass --listen and laugh.

[Maggiewaggie]

10-4 on the C.W. McCall song, "Wolf Creek Pass." It's absolutely hilarious.
Pull off and let your brakes cool if you feel they're getting hot. DO NOT pull off on a runaway truck ramp unless your brakes are totally gone. We once saw a family picnicking on the apron of one. Hope they lived!!

[Cherokee39]

In Alamosa you have the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

[daddy0420]

There's good Elk viewing at dusk less than !/2 mile from where you are. Go over the West Fork San Jaun river which is about 100 yards from where your camping make the 2nd left going toward the National Park campsites . About 1/2 mile on your left there is an open field before the big bend in the road. It's Boot Jack ranch fenced property but you can usually see a heard of Elk in the field at around Dusk or a little before.

[wuffwuff]

Wolf Creek Pass is listed as one of the most dangerous mountain passes in Colorado. ... A switchback turn on the west side of Wolf Creek Pass about 18 miles east of Pagosa Springs on U.S Highway 160 is one of the more dangerous areas on the mountain pass with a 200-foot dropoff on the other side of the curve.

[Chief T]

Originally Posted by wuffwuff

Wolf Creek Pass is listed as one of the most dangerous mountain passes in Colorado. ... A switchback turn on the west side of Wolf Creek Pass about 18 miles east of Pagosa Springs on U.S Highway 160 is one of the more dangerous areas on the mountain pass with a 200-foot dropoff on the other side of the curve.

Thank you for the warning. We're heading east on 160, our CG is a couple miles before the switchback.

Safe and happy travels.

[wuffwuff]

Stayed at Bruce Spruce cabins a couple of years ago. Planing on returning with my TT next years hunting season.

[JohnD10]

You've gotta go to the Sand Dunes if you are that close...

Here are a couple of shot I took about 10 years ago from the campground just outside of the Sand Dunes Park:

[Zoom]

Went down Wolf Creek Pass (going west) in the rain on 8/22/2018. Also went to the Great Sand Dunes on the way to Durango. Currently we are on Moab.

[Chief T]

To all, thank you for all the suggestions and advise on Wolf Creek Pass. Didn't take the TT through the pass, but did go with the truck, and yes, west bound on the pass ain't no joke.

Enjoyed a day in Pagosa Springs at a spa. Treasure Falls was just up the road from the CG. Took a drive out to Creede, nice little town. Checked out Big Meadows Reservoir for future visit.

Overall, it was a nice relaxing weekend to get away. The CG is isolated, no cell, television signal, and could only find 3 radio stations on the dial.

Safe and happy travels.