Archuleta County borders the east side of La Plata County in Southwest Colorado. It includes 1,355 square miles and three towns. The combination of mountain peaks, lush meadows, rivers, lakes, and historic landmarks create many opportunities for recreation and beautiful places to live.
Towns and Cities in Archuleta County
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Pagosa Springs, CO is the county seat of Archuleta County. It’s most well known for Pagosa Hot Springs, a natural geothermal hot springs with a variety of pools along the San Juan River. Downtown Pagosa offers quaint shops and dining, with a few big-name stores, dining, and amenities on the west side of town. There are lots of lakes, hiking trails, river activities, fishing, community events, and more to enjoy. Steven-Pagosa Springs Airfield is a small airport for private flights (currently no commercial flights are offered). Pagosa Springs is also the gateway to Wolf Creek Ski Area, which often boasts the most snow in Colorado. The Archuleta School District has one elementary, middle, and high school, along with a family school, mountain school, open charter school, and e-school.
Arboles, Colorado
Arboles is in the southwest corner of the county, offering access to Navajo Reservoir. This small town offers basic amenities and lots of campgrounds around the lake. Two Rivers Marina is one of two marinas (the other is farther south in New Mexico) and provides docks, fuel, rentals, and more.
Piedra, Colorado
Piedra is an even smaller unincorporated town without stores, restaurants, or other established amenities. Instead, it offers public access to camping, national forest, and the Piedra River. Chimney Rock National Monument is a short ten-minute drive, featuring the iconic rock formation. One of the largest Pueblo II communities in Southwest Colorado, there is a deep cultural history here that you can learn about, with excavated archaeological sites, and special hikes to the upper mesa for stunning views and a closer look at the pinnacles.
Living in Archuleta County
Annual events like the Archuleta County Fair and Colorfest are supplemented with many ongoing live performances, farmers markets, and more. Western heritage roots are perfectly complemented by the outdoor lifestyle and abundant natural resources. Hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, and hunting are just some of the activities to enjoy. Of course, the Pagosa Hot Springs, Navajo State Park, Chimney Rock, Echo Canyon Reservoir, and the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park are familiar attractions. The surrounding mountains and many lakes, streams, and rivers create a lush and hilly landscape, with constantly changing scenery throughout the four seasons.
Archuleta County Real Estate
Archuleta County offers a more rural lifestyle. There are horse properties, agricultural land, and private retreats for a true Colorado escape. Of course, in-town Pagosa there are neighborhoods and subdivisions with single-family homes, townhomes, and condos. With rural properties, it’s important to investigate property lines, well & septic systems, winter access, irrigation, covenants, and other critical property information.
The Archuleta County real estate market is typically slower than the La Plata County market, with similar seasonal trends. Despite a slower rebuild in inventory post-Covid, there has been a slight increase in listings and sales year over year (2024 - 2025). Although the July median and average price were $565,000 and $691,788, respectively, these numbers are slightly lower than last year but still show a continuous upward trend overall. There are plenty of good real estate opportunities in Archuleta County to explore.
The Durango Team at The Wells Group is no stranger to our neighboring county, and we are happy to assist in buying or selling real estate in Archuleta County. If it is not an area we serve, we will get you connected with one of our trusted Realtors® in the Pagosa Springs, CO market. Please do not hesitate to contact Max and Deven for more information about Archuleta County real estate.
Start your Archuleta County property search here.
