Aztec Ruins National Monument

Designated a National Monument in 1923, and a World Heritage Site in 1987, this large settlement planned and built by the ancestral Puebloans centuries ago rivals Chaco Canyon sites.  Located near Aztec, New Mexico along the Animas River, ruins include a huge Great House which may have been up to three stories high, and included some 400 individual rooms.  The Great Kiva has been reconstructed on the original site, so one can enter and observe the engineering used to form these great ceremonial structures.  

A self-guided walking tour takes one around the site, through the ancient doors and inside intact rooms.

Chimney Rock National Monument

 Designated a National Monument in 2012, the twin pinnacles of Chimney Rock can be seen for miles. Many centuries ago this land was home to ancestral Puebloans.  They left behind stone structures including a Great House Pueblo, a Great Kiva, multi-family dwellings and pit houses, all viewable from trails leading through the site.

In later years, the towering formations served as  landmarks for explorers, settlers, and prospectors heading into the rugged country now known as Colorado.

Located just 17 miles west of Pagosa Springs, a day trip offered us a chance to experience this unique monument.

Lobo Overlook Colorado

Lobo Overlook, advertised as being "as close to the top of the world as you can get by vehicle",  was a drive manageable even for our our CRV.  From the summit of Wolf Creek Pass on US highway 160 (elevation 10,857) access to the overlook area was via a 3 mile dirt, tower access road.  At the top, the Overlook elevation is nearly 12,000 feet above sea level.  A section of the Continental Divide Trail is accessible from here; picnic tables and a pit toilet are available.

Colorado Scenic Drives

 From Pagosa Springs there is access to numerous scenic drives taking one deep into the forests and wilderness areas.  Often access is via windy, narrow dirt roads that snake their way through the trees.

One drive took us south of town along the San Juan River, through rolling meadows, where we saw these deer.  Remnants of early settlements, no longer inhabited, were passed along the way. Often just a cemetery remained.

Another drive took us on Mill Creek Road, east toward the Nipple Mountain area, and panoramic views of the upper San Juan Valley.

Pagosa Springs Colorado

Pagosa Springs, located in southwestern Colorado, is know for its hot springs.  Deep geothermal hot springs provide pools for soaking; a rich sulfur smell is in the air.

The San Juan River runs through downtown; the San Juan Mountains and national forests surround the town.

About 20 miles east is Wolf Creek Ski area.

We spent about a week here, in a campground along the river just outside town.  The October weather was warm and sunny, with abundant golden foliage on trees nestled among the pines.