Quick 4 day trip planned with the wifey for a kid free getaway last weekend of July.

We've flying in/out of Durango, have a Jeep rental lined up, and accommodations for the weekend.

Itinerary is open! Must see places or hikes? Any great eats? Anything activities you'd recommend? Not opposed to driving to a few of the surrounding towns either! Open to all suggestions!

We took our 3 kids last August for a short trip. Things I can remember us doing off the top of my head include:

-hiking to Treasure Falls just outside the city
-tube rentals and floating down the river and then just playing in the river at the main city park
-eat at Rosie's pizzeria (we went twice in 4 days)

If kid free then a soak in the Pagosa hot springs is a fun day. Also have free hot springs along the river. Warning that you and your bathing suit will smell like sulphur BIG TIME but its fun.

We just left there two days ago from an adults only venture. Beautiful area. Have some shrimp tacos at Kipps Cantina, stop by the Neon Mallard for a crafty drink, walk through the contrast falls at The Springs Resort, watch tubers and have a beer at Riff Raff. If you're there on 7/24, hit the local rodeo finals, beautiful backdrop. It's a wonderful place to visit.

Used to have house in Pagosa. Love the place.

Trails -

Quartz Lake, trail info says it's hard but I went up with wife and 3 kiddo's aged 10-15. good views and if you hit it right the humming birds will be in one of the mtn meadows. Amazing.

Opal Lake - pretty easy, nice walk through mature Aspens. Walk around lake and you will find the spring that feeds it coming out of the ground

any of the waterfall trails

Piedra river hot springs - easy walk down to river with some natural hot springs. 6-800ft vertical coming out is a booger, all switch backs


Driving around - head north on 600 and take roads north or head south of town on 500

Food - Tequila's is not bad, better drinks than food but great view of springs resort and San Juan rolling through town.

Enjoy

Thank you all! Looking forward to it.

To add a bit to the above, the Quartz Lake trail if you're only there for four days might be really tough if not acclimated, but if you're in good shape and ready for it, there may not be a better hike in the whole area. If you're looking for something easy I would recommend the Ice Caves trail at the same trailhead as the Piedra River trail. The trail is less than a mile up and finishes on a ridge that is truly stunning. The Alberta Peak trail is also a really great hike, going right up the back of the ski area. No matter the hike though, go early in the day. You will almost certainly get late afternoon rains out in the mountains in late July.

As others have mentioned Kipp's and Riff Raff are great places for food and drinks, especially in the summer. Hidden Tracks is a solid new spot for a cocktail. If you like theater, the local theater puts on some really solid productions during the summer months, as does the theater in Creede if you're up for a fun day trip.

If The Springs is not budget friendly, I'd recommend The Overlook across the street for soaking tubs. It doesn't have the same resort vibe, but the rooftop tubs are nice, it is way cheaper and I've never not had a great massage there.

I could go on and on about Pagosa. It is a fun and beautiful little town. You will have a great time and I will bet you'll be back!