Summer days in Pagosa Springs tend to fill themselves. Mornings begin with breakfast by the river at our Pagosa Springs hotel, afternoons are spent floating the San Juan or exploring mountain trails, and evenings end with ice cream or a soak in the hot springs. It’s the kind of place where kids stay busy, parents actually get to relax, and you don’t have to spend your vacation rushing from one attraction to the next.
If you’re planning a Colorado family getaway, here are some of our favorite things to do in Pagosa Springs on a summer day.
1. Cool Off Tubing on the San Juan River
Few summer traditions are more “Pagosa” than spending an afternoon on the San Juan River.
By mid-to-late summer, the river usually settles into a gentle float that’s perfect for families with older kids. Rent tubes from Pagosa Outside Adventures, hop in upstream, and drift right through downtown. When you reach the end of your float, simply walk back along the Riverwalk Trail and do it again if you’re not ready to call it a day.
Bring water shoes, sunscreen, and a waterproof phone case. The kids will be laughing the entire way down, and chances are you’ll want plenty of pictures. And, as with any river activity, always check current water conditions before heading out, especially earlier in the season when snowmelt can make the river colder and faster.
2. Soak in the Hot Springs
Of course, you can’t visit Pagosa Springs without experiencing the hot springs that gave the town its name.
Families often enjoy spending a few hours at The Springs Resort, where multiple pools at different temperatures make it easy for everyone to find one they’re comfortable in (the Blue Lagoon is a kid favorite). Overlook Hot Spring offers another family-friendly option with rooftop pools overlooking downtown and the San Juan River.
For a budget-friendly adventure, you can visit the free hot springs along the San Juan River. The Hippy Dip is the most accessible, located right in the river. For families with older kids who like to hike, the Piedra River Hot Springs and Rainbow Hot Springs require more of a trek but reward you with a true backcountry soak. Just know that these natural springs are undeveloped, so they’re best for adventurous families comfortable with rustic conditions.
3. Meet Rescued Animals at Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park
About 15 minutes south of downtown, Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park gives families the chance to see rescued Colorado wildlife up close.
The sanctuary is home to bears, wolves, elk, mountain lions, bobcats, foxes, and other native animals that can no longer survive in the wild. During the daily 3:00 p.m. summer feeding tour, families can follow the caretakers through the park as they feed the animals and share each one’s story, including how they came to the park and interesting facts about their species.
4. Chase Waterfalls and Scenic Wonders
Summer is also a perfect time to get an up-close look at Pagosa’s natural landmarks. Treasure Falls, just 15 minutes east on Highway 160, offers a short half-mile hike to a 105-foot waterfall, an easy win for families with younger kids. Piedra Falls is another beautiful option, a bit more off the beaten path but rewarding for families who like a bit more adventure.
For a dose of history, explore the Ancestral Puebloan sites perched dramatically on a high mesa at Chimney Rock National Monument. Kids interested in archaeology, astronomy, or just climbing around impressive rock formations will find it fascinating, and the views are unbeatable.
5. Catch Free Summer Concerts and Live Music
Summer evenings in Pagosa Springs often end with live music. Throughout the season, families gather with lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and takeout from downtown restaurants to enjoy free concerts under the mountain sky.
The Pagosa Springs Summer Concert Series brings a variety of local and touring musicians to Yamaguchi Park on select Saturday evenings, for free family fun. Another favorite is the 19th Hole Concert Series at the Pagosa Springs Golf Club, where you’ll find outdoor performances every Thursday evening in June with plenty of space for kids to move around.
If you’re visiting in June, July, or August, check the schedule for ComFest. This free community concert takes place one evening each month and features live music, food trucks, local vendors, and drinks, with proceeds supporting the Wings Early Childhood Center. Bring a blanket, find a spot on the lawn, and let the kids dance while the sun sets over the mountains.
6. Experience the Pagosa Night Rodeo
If you’re visiting on a Thursday evening during the summer, don’t miss the Pagosa Night Rodeo at the Western Heritage Event Center Rodeo Grounds. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. with a pre-party featuring live music and food vendors, the pre-show starts at 6:30 p.m., and the rodeo kicks off at 7:00 p.m. Kids especially love the mutton busting and calf scramble events, where young participants get in on the action. Watching riders take on bulls, broncs, barrels, and ropes under the lights is the kind of small-town Colorado experience you can’t manufacture.
7. Explore the Parks
Pagosa Springs has a wonderful collection of parks perfect for letting kids burn energy. Yamaguchi Park has two playgrounds, a skate park, climbing walls, and river access for tubing. Town Park (locally known as Pirate Park) sits right on the river with a playground and open space. Reservoir Hill offers hiking, disc golf, and panoramic views. These green spaces are great for picnics, play, and giving everyone a chance to stretch their legs between other activities.
8. Take to the Sky in a Hot Air Balloon
This might not seem like a kids’ activity, but floating above the valley at sunrise, watching the landscape unfold beneath you on a hot air balloon ride, is something kids and adults remember forever. Several local operators offer family-friendly flights, and the early morning timing means you’ll be back in time for the rest of your day’s adventures.
9. Saddle Up for a BBQ Dinner Wagon Ride
Buckaroos offers a BBQ Dinner Wagon Ride that’s pure family fun. You’ll travel by wagon to their dinner cabin site, where a hearty BBQ menu awaits, along with live music, lassoing demonstrations, and s’mores around the campfire.
10. Ride the Rails
If your family doesn’t mind a scenic drive, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is one of the region’s most memorable day trips. About an hour west of Pagosa Springs, this historic steam train winds through the rugged San Juan Mountains, following the Animas River past towering cliffs, forests, and old mining sites that can’t be reached by car.
Kids love watching the vintage locomotive billow steam as it pulls away from the station, while parents can sit back and enjoy some of Colorado’s most spectacular scenery without lacing up hiking boots.
11. Dive into Local History
The Pagosa Springs History Museum offers a window into the area’s past. It’s a great rainy-day option or a way to add some educational value to your vacation. Kids can learn about the region’s frontier history, the indigenous peoples who lived here, and how the town developed around its famous hot springs.
12. Catch a Movie or Show
When you need a break from the sun, catch a film at the Liberty Theatre, a charming single-screen theater in downtown Pagosa. For live entertainment, the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts hosts performances throughout the summer that the whole family can enjoy.
13. Solve an Escape Room
For a fun indoor challenge, Pagosa Fun Zone offers escape rooms with themed puzzles at varying difficulty levels. All bookings are private, so you’ll work together as a family without being paired with strangers. It’s a great way to spend an hour solving clues together, perfect for an afternoon when the weather isn’t cooperating or when you just need a different kind of fun.
14. Treat Yourself to Something Sweet
No family vacation is complete without dessert. Pagosa Springs has some wonderful sweet stops. Bliss Scoops & Sweets and the Malt Shoppe serve up classic ice cream parlor favorites that kids love.
Mad Cow Creamery serves small-batch ice cream inside Higher Grounds Coffee Shop, made with clean ingredients and is quickly becoming a local favorite. If you needed any more incentive to get ice cream, they host Ice Cream Happy Hour every Friday from 1–5 p.m., with kids’ cups for just $3.
Pagosa Springs Chocolate makes handcrafted confections if you’d rather bring home handmade chocolates for later.
15. Stay in a Pagosa Springs Hotel Designed for Families
The best part about all these activities? From RiverWalk Inn, you’re close to all of it. Our downtown riverfront location puts you within walking distance of the river, parks, restaurants, and downtown fun, while keeping you a short drive from the wildlife park, waterfalls, and Chimney Rock.
Our family-friendly rooms are designed with families in mind, featuring multiple beds, smart layouts, and the kind of comfort that helps everyone recharge after a busy day. Start your mornings with our complimentary breakfast, spend your days exploring, and come back to relax by the river. The sound of the San Juan River and easy access to everything make managing a family vacation simple. Our front desk can even help you book activities like hot air balloon rides and whitewater rafting through Pagosa Outside, so you can plan your adventures without leaving the inn.
Summer in Colorado is about making memories together, and Pagosa Springs gives you every opportunity to do exactly that. Book your family getaway today and discover why families return to RiverWalk Inn year after year.
