In The Shadow of Longs Peak
San Luis and Pagosa
26 February 2026
We head back to Karen's place today with a stop at the National Wildlife Refuge outside of Monte Vista where we saw lots of Sandhill Cranes and a couple of snow geese (first time I have seen a snow goose)! We observed a couple of dust storms to the east as we drove north on US 287.
Tuesday, 24 February 2026
The next morning, we headed south from Ponca Springs on US 285 and into the San Luis Valley. It was warm and sunny and not overly windy.
Our first stop was at Russel Lakes, one of Colorado’s State Wildlife Areas, located along US 285, south of Saguache.
There is a short path with a boardwalk down to a small lake. Along the way, I was taken with a shallow puddle. The water was clear; I could see the puddle bottom as well as the reflection of last year’s field grass; In the distance is the Sangre De Cristo Range with Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak. We saw and heard Sandhill Cranes in the air but I do not think we saw any at the lake.
Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Driving tour
Stop 1: Remote Camping Sites on east side of Piedra River, north of US 160 and West of the intersection of US 160 and CO 15
There are about 5 remote campsites along the river once you go past the last house.
Stop 2: Lower Piedra Campground, road closed. This is also north of US 160 and West of the intersection of US 160 and CO 15.
According to the website, this is first-come, first serve, no reservations.
It is about 20 miles from the junction of US 160 and CO 15 to Arboles Point Campground
Stop 3: River Access at Bridge on Foss Gulch Road
This is on the Ute Indian Reservation. We would need a permit to access the river here.
Southern Ute Division of Wildlife: 970-563-0130
Stop 4: River Access where the sand quarry operation is:
Piedra Pit / Crossfire Aggregate: 970-883-0130 and Arboles Sand and Stone: 970-883-5454
Stop 5: Piedra River Access, Day Use Area
This is within Navajo State Park. We could put in here and paddle into the lake. Has a restroom and parking.
Position: N37° 03' 45.0" W107° 24' 50.2"
Trujillo Road (Country Road 500) Section
Stop 6: Narrow Gauge Junction Access
Within Navajo State Park. Day use area. No river or lake access
Stop 7: Deer Run Access
Within Navajo State Park. Day use area. No river or lake access
Stop 8: Piedra Flats Access
Within Navajo State Park. Day use area. No river or lake access
Stop 9: Arboles Point Campground
Site 1 and Site 2 are the primo sites. Karen has site 2 reserved. Anne will get site 1. Looks like we can access the lake from these sites but did not walk down. We never did find site 3. Site 4 would do in a pinch.
Stop 10: San Juan Flats
Within Navajo State Park. Day use area. No river or lake access
Stop 11: S Curves
Within Navajo State Park. Day use area. No river or lake access
Stop 12: Unnamed Access Thru a Closed Gate
Within Navajo State Park. Day use area. No river or lake access
Stop 13: Cottonwood Access
There is river access. No restroom. This is the last access point within Navajo State Park
Position: N37° 00' 57.9" W107° 18' 58.0"
Stop 14: Old Caracas Highway. Fenced. No River Access
Stop 15: There is a big rock across the river above MM 28
Stop 16: Access Point on Ute Land. OK access but muddy
Position: N37° 01' 23.2" W107° 12' 43.6"
Stop 17: Pagosa Junction and old RR bridge
Blue Sky, sunny, very little wind, river winds thru, silver trees without leaves, open valley. White Church with pink roof on the other side of the road.
Good put-in but we would need to wheel the boats about 200 yards.
Position: N37° 02' 12.4" W107° 12' 05.1"
Stop 18: On the other side of a restricted bridge from Pagosa Junction
Took a right turn then over 2 RR tracks. Muddy and Slick. Cool buildings but not a better put-in than Pagosa Junction
At junction of CR 500/ CR 700, we took 500
Stop 19: Another Ute Access, but would be a harsh put-in
Stop 20: Ute Access # 25570, bypassed due to mud
MM 25: Old double RR bridge across river
Stop 21: Pull-out on right. Not signed. Doable as a put in but tricky. Good parking but muddy. River cobbles have an interesting bluish cast.
Position: N37° 01' 45.9" W107° 09' 20.4"
Stop 22: About 200 feet further. Best Put-in!
Much better put-in but signed with No Parking Sign
Position: N37° 01' 48.1" W107° 09' 16.8"
Stop 22: Intersection of CR 550 and CR551, the Navajo River Road.
Just before the intersection, you could drop down to the river but parking would be an issue.
Stop 23: Navajo River Road.
Could we put in at the Navajo River and paddle into the San Juan? Could be unseen hazards, not a good idea.
This is where we saw the two unpenned horses, some old buildings, old wagon and Juanita Cemetery.
CR 500. Old canoe on side of road.
Stop 24: Ute Access #21916.
Parking would be marginal.
Position: N37° 02' 38.3" W107° 08' 32.8"
Along CR500, the overall cover is grey. The bare trees are grey. The bushes are grey. The pinons are green-grey.
San Luis and Pagosa
23 February 2026 - 26 February 2025
I accompanied Karen A. on an exploratory trip to Pagosa Springs to check out the possibility of paddling the San Juan River and the Piedra River into Navajo Reservoir, which spans the border of Colorado and New Mexico and located south west of Pagosa Springs.
We also intended to see if we could see any migrating Sandhill Cranes in the San Luis Valley, one of their migration stopovers. Monte Vista organizes a Sandhill Crane Festival each year at the time of their migration which was a week or so after we were there. There is a National Refuge outside of Monte Vista which is the focus of various opportunities for observation.
I drove down to Karen’s house on 2/23/2026, a nice sunny day for traveling, and spent the night there. We also visited Lori and Wes who moved to Ponca Springs from Silverton last year.