RECREATION
Golf Courses | Swimming Pools & Hot Springs | Campgrounds | Hiking | Horseback Rides

GOLF COURSES

Hillcrest Golf Club is an 18-hole course with a spectacular view of the La Plata Mountains. On the Fort Lewis College mesa overlooking Durango, it is open from daylight to dark daily. Green fee for 9 holes is $13; 18 holes (or all day) is $25. Electric cart rental is $9 for 9 holes and $18 for 18 holes. The clubhouse features a full line of golf equipment and a snack bar. A driving range, practice green, and practice sand trap are available. Jim Fiala, Class A PGA professional, is the club pro. For tee times, available 7 days in advance, call (970) 247-1499

Dalton Ranch is a Ken Dye designed 18-hole golf course 6 miles north of Durango at Trimble Lane (C. R. 252) and Hwy 550 in the beautiful Animas Valley. Green fees include cart, and are $65 from May 19 – June 23; $79 from June 23 – August 31; and $65 after August 31. Twilight rates are available Sunday through Tuesday after 1 p.m. Fall rates begin September 10. Dalton has a fully stocked pro shop and PGA professional staff led by Fal Wood. Lessons and clinics are available as well as a restaurant, lounge, driving range, practice green, sand trap and chipping green. For tee times, call (970) 247-8774.

Glacier Club at Tamarron. The golf course is located on US Hwy 550 north of Durango in the majestic San Juan Mountains, surrounded by lush forests and rugged cliffs. Due to construction, only 9 holes will be open this year, beginning in July. For tee times or more information, call (970) 382-6700.

Hunter’s Run is a 9-hole course located 14 miles southeast of Durango on Hwy 172. It is open 7 days a week. The 9-hole green fee is $7 and power cart rental is $10 for 9 holes. There is a snack bar and practice green. Tee times are generally not necessary. For information call (970) 884-9785.

Conquistador is a championship 18-hole golf course with complete practice facility and snack bar, located at 2018 N. Dolores Road in Cortez, 40 miles west of Durango. Fees are $18 for 18 holes, $11 for 9 holes. Golf cart fees are $21 for 18 holes, $12.50 for 9 holes. The head PGA professional is Micah Rudosky. For tee times call (970) 565-9208. No reservations are required Monday through Thursday.

Pagosa Springs Golf Club is located 3 1/2 miles west of Pagosa Springs on US Hwy 160 and has 27 holes. Green fees are $24 for 9 holes, $44 for 18 holes. With cart, fees are $33 for 9 holes, $57 for 18 holes. Lessons, clinics and rental equipment are available, plus a pro shop and restaurant. Alan Schutz is the PGA professional. For tee times, available 10 days in advance, call (970) 731-4755.

Cortez Municipal Swimming Pool - 803 E. Montezuma Ave., Cortez. (970) 565-7877. Outdoor pool. 125’ slide with double loops. 2 tube slides. Diving board. Adults $3.00, under 17 is $2.00, and 60+ is $2.50. Open swim M-Sun. 1:00 - 4:50 p.m. Adult lap swims 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. M-Sun., family swims 6:00 - 7:50 p.m. M-F and 5:00 - 6:50 p.m. Sat. & Sun.(June 9 – Aug. 1). Twilight swims 8:00 - 9:50 p.m. Mon. & Wed.

Durango Community Recreation Center Swimming Pool - 2400 Main Avenue, Durango. (970)375-7300. Indoor pool complex. Lap pool is 25 meters by 25 yards, has 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards. Leisure pool goes from 0" to 3’6" and includes play features, two small water slides, lazy river, a vortex, two leisure lap lanes and 25’ water slide. Hot tub for relaxing. Day pass for rec center including pool is Adult $3.50, Youth (4-17 yrs) $2.50, Senior (55+) $2.50, Child 3 and under free with adult. Open M-F 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., and Sun. 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Durango Sports Club - 1600 Florida Rd., Durango. (970) 259-2579. Outdoor swimming pool, handball, racquetball, aerobics, cardiovascular machines, weight machines, free weights, massage, tanning bed, physical therapy. Open 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. M-F, 8 a.m - 8 p.m. Sat., and 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sun. Day pass $9.00.

Ouray Hot Springs Pool & Fitness Center - 1000 Main Ave, Ouray, Colorado (970) 325-4638. Year-round 250’ x 150’ hot mineral pool. Lap lanes, diving area, children’s area, 104-degree soak area, fitness center and picnic area. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Adults $8.00, Youth (7–17) $6.00, and Children (3–6) $3.00.

The Springs – 157 Hot Springs Blvd., Pagosa Springs. (970) 264-2284. Outdoor mineral water pool. The Great Pagosa is considered the largest and deepest hot spring in the world. Fifteen soaking pools terracing the banks of the San Juan River with flagstone pathways and hot mineral water varying from 83 to 114 degrees. Bath house has lockers, towels, soft goods. Open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sun. – Thurs., 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fri. and Sat. Adults $12.00, children (2-7) $4.00, under 2 free with adult. Discounts to seniors, students, groups, military.

Trimble Hot Springs - 6475 County Road 203, Durango. 7 miles north of Durango off Hwy 550, (970)247-0111. 50 X 150 foot Olympic outdoor pool with 81 to 84 degree water temperature. Also 50 X 27 foot therapy pool, 102 to 108 degrees. Snack bar, park and garden. Lap lanes, water aerobics, water volleyball, massages, herbal wraps, facials. Open 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. daily. Adults $9.00, Children (3–12) $6.50, free for 2 and under.

Five Branches Camper Park - 4677 C.R. 501A, Bayfield, CO, (970) 884-2582. Five Branches Camper Park on Vallecito Lake and Pine River. Take C.R. 240, North on C.R. 501. 22 miles northeast of Durango, Colorado, Five Branches Camper Park is the place for your family vacation. The park offers fishing, boating, biking, hiking, volleyball, horseshoes, swings, pool table, video games, a hot tub, potlucks and wonderful friendships, ot just re-lax. The park, at 7,650-foot elevation, backs up to over 460,000 acres of Weminuche Wilderness Area in the beautiful San Juan Mountains. Visit our website www.5branches.com 

Riverside RV Park - 41743 US Hwy 160, Bayfield, CO, 81122. (888) 884-2475. 60 sites with electric, water, sewer, cable TV. 20 with electric and water. Tent sites, laundry, showers, clean restrooms, public phone/phones at some sites. Daily, weekly, monthly prices $12.00 to $18.69. Open April 1 - October 31.

Blue Spruce RV Park - 1875 CR 500, Vallecito Lake, CO (970) 884-2641. We’re more than just an R.V. park! Heavily wooded,120 full hookups. Level and shaded sites, cabin rentals and sales. Laundry, showers, LP gas. Country store, ice cream, sandwich parlor, round/square dancing. Activities Director, public phone, internet ac-cess, credit cards accepted, come share our space! Large groups welcome.

HIKING

Southwest Colorado is a hiker’s paradise. There is terrain that is suitable for all levels of hikers. There is spectacular scenery and, of course, the rewards of doing an outdoor activity. The San Juan Mountains Association has a dandy guide for Southwest Colorado hiking. The following information was compiled from that guide and from San Juan Mountains Visitor Information Specialist, Alan Peterson. If you pick up a guide, it contains very simplified maps and it is suggested that more detailed maps from USFS or the BLM should be purchased.

The few trails listed here are considered to be among the most popular and are recommended from the four public land offices in which they can be found — the Columbine District (Bayfield), the Pagosa Ranger District (Pagosa Springs), the Dolores Public Lands Office (Dolores) and the San Juan Public Lands Center (Durango).

For basic guidelines of things to keep in mind before going on your trek, you should consider these main points: plan your trip; be prepared even when going on short day hikes; protect yourself against high-altitude sickness; expect unpredictable weather; beware of high water; avoid

giardia by never drinking water straight from the wild; don’t attract bears; be careful to not be tempted into old, dilapidated buildings of any kind.

Some of Southwest Colorado’s trails are designed to be fully accessible and barrier-free. Others are quite arduous and are for only the strongest and ablest hikers. Choose your trails according to your own abilities. It is also important to remember that ignorance of the law is not an excuse to violate regulations, codes or laws. Educate yourself well and you’ll have a safe and enjoyable time.

Spud Lake
One of the best for children.
Access via Hwy 550 North of Durango

Cascade Creek
Access via Hwy 550 North of Durango

Colorado Trail
Drive to the Little Molas Lake (off Hwy 550 N) to the trailhead and hike down to the highway
Excellent views

Crater Lake
Access off Hwy 550 North
Turn right at Andrews Lake

Animas City Mountain Trail
Access off 32nd Street in Durango
Excellent for viewing the town while on a short hike

Hope Lake
Access via Hwy 550 N off Lizard Head Pass (in the Uncompahgre National Forest)

Ryman Creek
Access via Hwy 145 out of Dolores

Ice Lakes
North of Silverton, off Hwy 550
Expect constant climbing in alpine area

Engineer Mountain
Access via Hwy 550 North from the Coal Bank Pass area

Goulding Trail
Access via Hwy 550 North near Tamarron
Sign is VERY small, trail on west side of highway

Lizard Head
Access via Hwy 145

Seventy Seven Outfit - 11374 Hwy 550, Durango, Colorado, (970)247-3231. Lifetime of horsemanship to share. Let our horsepower and 20 years experience exploring the backcountry take you on an adventure to special places. Day rides and overnight camps in the San Juan National Forest.

Astraddle A Saddle, Inc. - (970)731-5076. 4 miles west of "Fairfield Pagosa" on Hwy 160. Horseback trail rides in the beautiful San Juan Mountains. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, wagon rides to "all you can eat" barbecue brisket, chicken, sausage dinners. Campfire singing ends a perfect day. Reservations required. Gary Bramwell, Colorado Outfitter license #117. P.O. Box 1216, Pagosa Springs, 81147.

D bar G Outfitters, Inc. - (970) 385-6888. Breakfast rides, sunset dinner rides, 1hr. 2hr. 4hr. and all day rides, overnight 3, 4, and 5-day pack trips with incredible views and lots of wildlife. Large or small groups. Two conven-ient locations just minutes from downtown Durango. One location is 15 minutes west of town on Hwy. 160 towards Mesa Verde National Park and the other is 20 minutes northeast of town at beautiful Lemon Reservoir. Call for directions. Reservations are recommended. Lic # 1704

Elk Point Stables - (970) 884-2482. Come and "Cowboy Up" with us at Elk Point Lodge on the shore of Vallecito Lake. Fully guided mountain trail rides one hour to full day. Special breakfast or sunset dinner rides. MC/Visa accepted. Reservations recommended.

Over the Hill Outfitters, Inc. - (970)385-7656 or (970)247-1694. 8 miles east of Durango on the Florida River at 4140 County Road 234. We specialize in custom horseback adventures and guided flyfishing. Join us for the finest two-hour horseback ride in the area on the secluded Gambel Oak and Ponderosa Pine forest of the Palmer Quarter Horse Ranch (10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; reservations required). If you have more time, try our all-day horseback ride in the San Juan National Forest and Weminuche Wilderness (9 a.m.; reservations required). If you are adventurous, experience our basecamp in the Florida drainage of the Weminuche Wilderness where you can climb spectacular peaks, fish remote mountain steams, hunt big game, and photograph the finest scenery in the world. Colorado Outfitter License #1832.

Rapp’s Corrals - 451 C.R. 510, Durango, Colorado, (970)247-8454. Horseback riding corrals are located 17 miles north of Durango just off of hwy. 550 near Haviland Lake. We specialize in small group custom riding and wagon rides. We hope you can join us! Open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., seven days a week - conditions permitting.

Rimrock Outfitters - 12175 C.R. 44, Mancos, (970) 533-7588. Enjoy horseback rides from 1 hour to all day, from breakfast to hearty steak dinner rides - we aim to please. Overnight pack trips available. Wagon rides. Wedding carriage for rent. Call for all our summer activities. Open seven days a week. Closed Sun-day mornings.