Like many Colorado mountain towns, Pagosa Springs thrives on tourism and outdoor recreation, with about 50 percent of surrounding Archuleta County reserved as public lands.
Visitors and residents can float the San Juan River and summit a 13,000-foot peak in a single day. However, increasing recreation demand has highlighted the challenge of balancing growth with preserving natural resources, wildlife and community character.
Recognizing this need, the Pagosa Area Trails Council (PATC) established the Pagosa Area Recreation Coalition (PARC) — a local coalition with a broader interest dedicated to addressing outdoor recreation opportunities and challenges in the region.
Community Recreation Survey
PARC’s current community recreation survey is designed to hear your thoughts and priorities about the recreational trails, facilities, programs, and open spaces within the Pagosa Area Recreation Coalition boundary. This study area boundary includes the Town of Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County, and portions of Mineral and Hinsdale counties. This survey also aims to understand how much interest there is in supporting future recreation projects and funding mechanisms.
What do you think about the recreation opportunities in the Pagosa Springs area? How should land managers prioritize future management investments?
Click here to participate in the citizen survey.
PARC is a regional coalition dedicated to supporting the development of a sustainable recreation plan for the study area region, which includes the Town of Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County, and portions of Mineral and Hinsdale counties. Representatives from each of the primary land management agencies (County, Town, Forest Service, CPW, PLPOA) lead this coalition and ensure thoughtful collaboration and coordination. Your input will help this coalition better understand the needs and desires of the community and fine-tune future recommendations relating to recreation management.
As an initiative led by the PATC, PARC is developing a long-term, community-supported outdoor recreation plan for the greater Pagosa Springs area, covering Archuleta County, portions of Hinsdale County south of the Continental Divide, and portions of Mineral County east of the Continental Divide.
Our goals:
- Develop a regional outdoor recreation plan that balances sustainable recreation with conservation. Collaborate with land managers and stakeholders to implement strategies that ensure quality outdoor experiences while protecting public lands.
- Engage the community through surveys, meetings and data collection to shape the plan based on local needs.
- Work collaboratively to implement and monitor PARC’s outdoor recreation plan.
In 2024, PARC secured $125,000 from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and $30,000 from the U.S. Forest Service, joining the Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnership Initiative. This partnership provides access to funding and aligns us with other Colorado communities facing similar recreation challenges.
With guidance from SE Group, an experienced outdoor recreation planning firm, PARC is laying the groundwork for a sustainable future — one that protects our local natural resources and wildlife while ensuring equitable and high-quality outdoor recreation.
A PARC Leadership Committee — including representatives from the Town of Pagosa Springs; Archuleta Hinsdale and Mineral counties; Forest Service; Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association; PATC; and the Southern Ute Tribe — is leading the planning effort.
Additionally, a PARC Task Force of 35-40 local stakeholders with diverse interests is working collectively and in smaller groups focused on summer recreation, winter recreation, education and information, partnerships and funding, and data collection.
Together, we’re creating a sustainable recreation legacy that benefits both our community and the environment. We are excited about the progress being made and remain committed to ensuring that the voices of our residents guide this effort.