Anybody familiar with the Bear Creek subdivision? (southern CO, 17 miles west of Antonito) (Denver: salons)

[igorcarajo]

I curious if anybody is familiar with a subdivision called Bear Creek about 17 miles west of Antonito. It looks like a pretty area, although quite remote. Thanks in advance for any comments.

[interloper1138]

I have no knowledge of that subdivision specifically aside from where it is, but I explore that general area quite often and might be able to answer some questions you have.

It's certainly a very beautiful area and very remote. If living there and you needed anything beyond the very basics that you can get in Antonito, it would require travel to Alamosa, Taos, Chama, Pagosa Springs, or Santa Fe.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

On Google Maps, there's a Bear Creek Gazebo 17.8 miles west of Antonito on CO 17. Zooming in on the aerial, there are quite a few rather large-looking houses in that area. A few more seconds of Googling found a Bear Creek Land Owners' Association: http://www.bearcreekcolorado.com/pdf...RDING%20BC.pdf.

[igorcarajo]

Originally Posted by interloper1138

I have no knowledge of that subdivision specifically aside from where it is, but I explore that general area quite often and might be able to answer some questions you have.

It's certainly a very beautiful area and very remote. If living there and you needed anything beyond the very basics that you can get in Antonito, it would require travel to Alamosa, Taos, Chama, Pagosa Springs, or Santa Fe.

Thanks for the response. Let’s say you needed to fly somewhere, would Alamosa be the nearest regional airport? Are there any businesses in Antonito?

[davebarnes]

https://www.sanluisvalleyairport.org/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti..._Colorado.html

You do know about search engines in the InerrTubes®️?

[interloper1138]

Originally Posted by igorcarajo

Thanks for the response. Let’s say you needed to fly somewhere, would Alamosa be the nearest regional airport? Are there any businesses in Antonito?

Yep, Alamosa's airport is the nearest regional airport. It currently has twice daily flights to/from Denver through Denver Air Connection. The airport tends to change carriers every time their contracts with the city are up (every 2 years on average). United has had service multiple times, which was great. Denver Air Connection seems to have fewer cancellations, though. At one point there were daily flights to Albuquerque, too, though that hasn't been the case in four or five years. For more connections, Santa Fe and Durango would be the next best options as they have United, Delta, and American Airlines. Most likely you'll find yourself connecting through Denver.

Regarding businesses in Antonito, yes, there are several. It's a small town with its best days likely behind it, but it's very much an active community. There's a grocery store, a dollar store, a handful of restaurants, liquor and weed shops, a barber shop and some salons, and multiple churches. For the essentials for daily living Antonito will have you covered, but for greater selections you'd need to head up to Alamosa or down to Santa Fe for anything beyond what Alamosa has. Taos would have somewhat 'nearby' boutique shopping, too.

[interloper1138]

Forgot to mention that Antonito also has a medical clinic, a small library, and several gas stations and banks.

[DOUBLE H]

Originally Posted by interloper1138

Forgot to mention that Antonito also has a medical clinic, a small library, and several gas stations and banks.

A quick thumbs up for Antonito and that would be the Cumbres Toltec Scenic Railroad--64 miles of beautiful, beautiful scenery that goes to Chama, New Mexico. It's every bit as scenic as the Durango-Silverton ride. It's been 15 years since I've been through there but plan on taking my sister and brother to it next Spring. I'm hoping that two great restaurants are still open there-that would be the Dutch Mill Cafe for breakfast and the Dos Hermanas Mexican Restaurant on the main drag-285. They are just a few buildings apart from each other and had great meals. I hope they are still in business.

[interloper1138]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

I'm hoping that two great restaurants are still open there-that would be the Dutch Mill Cafe for breakfast and the Dos Hermanas Mexican Restaurant on the main drag-285. They are just a few buildings apart from each other and had great meals. I hope they are still in business.

I'm pleased to let you know both restaurants are still there, and both are still tasty.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

A quick thumbs up for Antonito and that would be the Cumbres Toltec Scenic Railroad--64 miles of beautiful, beautiful scenery that goes to Chama, New Mexico. It's every bit as scenic as the Durango-Silverton ride. It's been 15 years since I've been through there but plan on taking my sister and brother to it next Spring. I'm hoping that two great restaurants are still open there-that would be the Dutch Mill Cafe for breakfast and the Dos Hermanas Mexican Restaurant on the main drag-285. They are just a few buildings apart from each other and had great meals. I hope they are still in business.

I fondly remember riding that train from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO. Took about 8 hours for the trip as it wove its way across the hills and many times criss-crossed the boundary between the two states. A different sort of scenery than the Durango train, but awesome in its own way. At Osier, the halfway point, the train stopped at a former cattle pen and we ate lunch in a nice eatery they built just for passengers. It was an amazing day. When we got to Antonito we walked around the railyard for a while then they put us on a bus and in ONE hour we were back at Chama. We stayed in Chama at the Gandy Dancer Inn, a nice BnB run by a couple, but I can't find much about that place. There's a facebook page but it's dated 2015.

Chama, NM on google maps. When the map opens, the RR is in the middle of the page, click on that and when the page comes up for the RR click on the photo for all the pix on the site . . . all 3700+ of them.