Included / Not Included –
Included: Accommodations, meals (for fully catered packages), guided fishing as noted on your invoice, flies and terminal tackle for guided fishing days, riding.
Not Included: Airfare, transportation to the lodge, meals and food for self-catered parties, alcohol, flies and tackle for un-guided days, fishing licenses and gratuities.
NOTE: Prices are based on a minimum group size of 4. Discounts apply to groups of 6 anglers occupying one house and to larger family groups with non anglers. Please call for details.
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information: To get to El Rancho Pinoso you will need to make travel arrangements to Durango, CO, Albuquerque, NM, or Denver.
Getting to the Lodge: From the airport you will need to rent a car and drive to the ranch. Please see driving directions and travel times below. Arrival and departure days are flexible. Check-in time is 4PM.
Departure Information: On your departure day you will leave the lodge after breakfast according to your travel plans (see itinerary for details). Check-out time is 11AM.
Driving Directions to El Rancho Pinoso (from Durango):
Turn right onto Hwy. 84 at intersection with Hwy. 160 and drive for approximately 8 miles.
Turn left onto Blanco Basin Road (CR 326) and drive approximately 9.5 miles to bridge.
Turn right over bridge at Castle Creek Road (CR 660) and drive .25 miles to cattle guard.
Turn left past cattle guard and drive 1 mile to ranch.
Driving Directions to El Rancho Pinoso (from Albuquerque):
Take I-25 N toward I-40/ Downtown Santa Fe
Merge onto US-285 N/ US-84 N via Exit 282B-A toward Los Alamos/Taos/Santa Fe-Plaza.
Turn left onto US-285 N/ US-84 N/ Paseo de Onate. Continue to follow US-84 N - US-84 N becomes US-64.
Turn left onto US-64/ US-84. Continue to follow US-84 (Crossing into Colorado).
Continue on US-84 until you reach Blanco Basin Road.
Turn right onto Blanco Basin Road (CR 326) and drive approximately 9.5 miles to bridge.
Turn right over bridge at Castle Creek Road (CR 660) and drive .25 miles to cattle guard.
Turn left past cattle guard and drive 1 mile to ranch.
Approximate Driving Times: Durango =1.5 hours Albuquerque = 4 hours Denver = 6 hours
Documentation Requirements:
To participate in the activities at El Rancho Pinoso, all guests will be required to sign a waiver form on-site, as there are risks associated with activities such as fishing and riding.
Travel Cash:
We request that you pay all gratuities in cash. $500-$600 per person should more than cover your needs.
Gratuities:
We request that guides be tipped directly in cash at the end of each fishing day. The standard in the region is $60-80 per day for one or two anglers.
For full service packages we recommend a tip of $20 per person per day.
For self-catered packages, we recommend a tip of $10 per person per day.
The lodge manager will collect these housekeeping tips at the end of the week and distribute them to the entire staff appropriately.
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are not included. Anglers are responsible for getting their licenses before reaching the ranch. We recommend stopping at one of the two City Markets in Pagosa Springs. They are open until 10:00PM.
Climate:
Daytime temperatures typically range from 60-85 degrees. Due to the high elevation mountainous nature of the region, the weather changes very quickly. Afternoon thundershowers are very common and the sun is very strong.
Medical Facilities:
The nearest medical facility is in Durango, approximately 1.5 hours from the lodge. Guests have the responsibility to disclose any special medical, physical, or dietary needs to the lodge ahead of time.
Power and Communications:
El Rancho Pinoso has 24 hour electricity with a propane backup generator. The lodge has a landline phone, a computer and complimentary Wi-Fi. Cell phones do not work on the property.
Water:
Water straight from the tap is fine for drinking.
Clothing:
As the climate is extremely changeable and a wide range of temperatures and conditions can be expected, we recommend layering clothes. Anglers should be prepared with thermal underwear, fleece/soft shell jacket, and a rain jacket. Synthetic fabrics are preferred to cotton. Dress at the lodge is casual.
Laundry:
Washers, dryers and detergent are on site for guests to use free of charge.
Beverages /Alcohol:
All guests are responsible for bringing their own alcohol. State run liquor stores are now open seven days a week. Beer can be purchased in grocery stores but be forewarned…it is 3.2 beer! Real beer is available at all of the liquor stores in Pagosa Springs.
Full service parties will have all the coffee they need. Typically the cabins have lots of coffee on hand for self-catered groups but feel free to bring your own blend if you like.
Tackle/Equipment List:
Rods: 9 foot rods for 3-5 weight lines.
Reels: Any quality single action fly reel with 50 yards of 20 lb backing.
Lines: Floating lines, weight forward or double tapered.
Leaders/Tippet: 9 ft to 12 ft leaders in 4x - 6x. Bring additional tippet in the same diameters.
Flies: Dries: Assorted stimulators with and without rubber legs in # 8-14, assorted olive caddis in #12-16, Parachute Adams in #14-18, assorted black ants #12-18, Blue Wing Olives #16-20, tan Morrish Hopper in #8-12. Nymphs: black and blue pickpocket #12-16,Prince #14-18, Dirty Bird, hares ear #12-16, Biotic Nymph #14-16, Pheasant tails #14-18, assorted caddis pupae in tan and olive #14-18, #16-18. Streamers: Morrish Sculpin in dark olive and brown # 4, assorted woolly buggers and zonkers in #4-6.
Waders & Boots: Lightweight breathable waders are recommended. Neoprene socks are recommended when wet wading. Please, no studded wading boots.
