Originally Posted in National Geographic
Courtesy of Pagosa Hot Springs Resort
Best For: Hot springs lovers and anyone looking to get a jump on early-season powder
One of Colorado’s most unheralded outdoor hotspots, Pagosa Springs, population 1,727, sits at the foot of the San Juan Mountains, 23 miles from Wolf Creek Ski Area, long renowned among the powder cognoscenti for having the best snow in the state. As for the town itself there are only two things a skier needs to know about: hot springs and microbreweries. The town’s namesake mineral hot springs—the world’s deepest—are so big they feed three different developed pools in town. Two different, top-shelf microbreweries in town will take care of your post-soak beverage and dining needs. Albuquerque, four hours south, is the nearest major airport, which is probably why crowds are rarely a problem in town or on the slopes.
Rising up along the Continental Divide in one of the snowiest zones in the Southern Rockies, remote Wolf Creek reliably serves up early-season conditions that are weeks ahead of most other mountains. Opening days in October are not uncommon. Its average of 430 inches of snow puts other Colorado resorts to shame, and its Alberta Chair accesses the kind of ungroomed, open-forest terrain typically reserved for the backcountry. At 1,600 acres it may not be huge, but it never feels crowded, and with a base area at 10,300 feet the powder stays pristine. A liberal open-gate policy allows hikers to access an enticing variety of expert terrain.
