In days past, Ancestral Puebloan farmers, Spanish miners and the infamous Dalton Gang outlaws all called the Pine River Valley home. Located in southwest Colorado, adjacent to two-million acres of San Juan National Forest, Bayfield now draws fly-fishing enthusiasts, horseback riders and folks seeking a genuine Colorado vacation.
Astride Route 160, Bayfield sits downstream from Lake Vallecito, one of Colorado's most stunning water spots. Offering boating, fishing, hiking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, this magnificent lake is one of southwest Colorado's most cherished and secluded destinations. Nearby lodging includes cabins, dude ranches, guest ranches, RV parks, motels and public campgrounds.
Bayfield also hosts one of the West's most celebrated activities - rodeo. Running non-stop, from spring to fall, visitors and residents watch the dust fly as cowpokes and livestock square off each weekend. Nestled between Pagosa Springs and Durango, Bayfield is also close to big city attractions including the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and Pagosa Springs' famous riverside hot springs. |
