Fun Days on Pagosa’s San Juan River Coming Soon
This has been an unusual weather year in Pagosa Country. Following several years of drought, due to low southwest moisture, this year has seen heavy [...]
The San Juan is Treasure Country
Trails through the San Juan are still marked by trees blazed by early Spanish explorers and travelers. Old Spanish prospect pits, arrastres (a place where ore is reduced to obtain gold), and tunnels can be found throughout the San Juan.
Lost Treasures of the San Juan, is it still there?
The presence of precious metals enflamed an unquenchable thirst for striking it rich by means of a lucky discovery of silver or gold, and this dream, in turn, spawned tales about lost mines and treasures. Whether based on fact or fancy, these stories became part of the lore of mining.
The Summitville 141 Pound Gold Boulder
The Summitville gold boulder is Colorado’s most remarkable chance discovery of gold in recent times. The gold boulder is now valued at over $500,000. If prospectors did find more gold, they never reported it. Nevertheless, the Summitville gold boulder will always be a reminder of the bonanza of the 19th century and that the old timers didn’t find it all.
Agritourism in Pagosa Springs and Colorado
The Alpacalypse Ranch , operated by Kathleen Conway, is an alpaca ranch. Saturday was shearing day at the with workers removing the thick alpaca coat grown over the winter season. Also included here is a century long history of sheep ranching in Pagosa Country.
The First Settlers of the Southwest
This article, from the Journal archives, has been updated with new artwork and information. We have every reason to believe these tribes came to and lived, at least part time, in Pagosa Country.
Snow and Natural Disasters in the San Juan Updated
Immediately search crews would begin to look for their friends trapped in the deep snow. Some were found and dug out immediately, and others were not found until spring, dead, at the bottom of gullies.
Mining History of Southwest Colorado
We obtained permission from Newmont Mining Company to post this well written and interesting article on the historic mining days northwest of Pagosa Springs in [...]
Paths, Roads, Trains and Settlement
Paths, Roads, Trains and Settlement By Norm Vance The San Juan Mountain area contains some of the harshest terrain in North America. The high rugged [...]
Lost Photos of Kit Carson Carving Tree Found
The digital universe is not perfect! Sometimes our photos have floated away into the void and do not come back. We were contacted by an academic [...]