Turkey Springs Area
Located 9 miles northwest of Pagosa Springs, the Turkey Springs Area is a vast expanse of gently-sloping Dakota Sandstone covered with large ponderosa pine and oakbrush, and is bisected by open meadows and rocky canyons. Aspen groves mark the springs for which the area is named (although the springs no longer reach the surface)
The trail system contains about 30 miles of easy to moderate terrain.
Depending upon the season, the area offers hiking, trail running, mountain biking, fat biking, and cross country skiing.
The trails generally dry out by mid-April. Bring your own water since the streams also dry out up by late-spring. In case you want to bring a dog, there are about a half dozen stock ponds that hold water throughout most summers. Chris Mountain is the highest point in the area (8880 feet), but most of the trails max out around 8100 feet.
The main trailhead is located about 7 miles northwest of Highway 160 along Piedra Road (CR600) right where Piedra turns to dirt. If you want to avoid the first 1.3 miles of uphill, take Turkey Springs Road (FR629), which is on the left just beyond the main trailhead. Then take a left on Newt Jack Road (FR923) and you'll find another trailhead about a tenth of a mile down Newt Jack Road. The new Chris Mountain Meadow trailhead is located 3.1 miles down Turkey Springs Road. Or continue on Turkey Springs Road to Brockover Road (FR919) and you'll find the Brockover Trailhead about a tenth of a mile down Brockover Road. The Chris Mountain Trailhead is located on Turkey Spring Road about a half mile past Brockover Road.
A variety of forest treatments have been on-going in this area to improve the health of the forest and reduce the catastrophic wildfire risk. The area has seen controlled burns, mastication, and biomass harvesting. As a result, the forest is returning to the natural, park-like state with widely spaced pines and a grass understory.