Coeur D' Alene v.s. Pagosa Springs

[Jerry Bellmyer]

Greetings,  I have an opportunity to live in CDA and in PS for the summer. But I have to make a decision quickly. I have a cabin rental offer that will let me have my 2 labs near the San Juan river and all the great amenities of SW Colorado. Hiking, fishing, kayaking, and of course - SCOUTING.  I have just under 3 years till I can get my teacher pension (unless its gone!). So I am looking at both places for possible retirement areas. In CDA I can stay at a farm and keep my RV there for minimal chores of feeding some animals....Both places are great - So I hear - as I have never been to either, just pictures and research....what you all think, some thoughts, comments, suggestions would be appreciated......

[amar911]

I have been to Coeur D'Alene before but never spent much time there. It is a pretty place and may have better fishing, but I expect the hunting there is no better or maybe not as good as Pagosa Springs. I have spent a lot of time in Colorado and New Mexico, and that area around Pagosa is a great place to be for hunting, fishing, skiing, biking, going to lots of interesting towns, and getting into the mountains for all sorts of fun. If you were just going for the summer, I would say either place would give you a great experience, but if you are wanting to try out a place for potential retirement, then Pagosa would be my clear choice. It sounds like you already know about "all the great amenities of SW Colorado".

Allan

[scedvm]

Jerry,
I have never lived in Pagosa but I grew up about an hour away in Durango and I lived 1 year in Coeur d'Alene.  Two very awesome places for sure and I think you would love both.  I am sort of partial to SW Colorado, lots of hunting and fishing opportunities there as well as lots of kayaking, mountain biking etc..  Either way it sounds like a great summer...Shawn

[huntingarcher]

Wow sounds like a win either way.I spent some time around Pagosa,can,t go wrong there.

[Spectre]

CDA is a pretty fine corner of the world. I guess it depends on what you want to do all summer.

[Ragnarok Forge]

CDA for me.  I love that area, and no way is the hunting better in Colorado.  Equal maybe but not better.

[Spectre]

Originally posted by Ragnarok Forge:
CDA for me.  I love that area, and no way is the hunting better in Colorado.  Equal maybe but not better.

^^This^^

[durp]

born in CDA in 1954 and never left the area cept for 6 year in the navy...never been to PS so cant say much there...

pm me and ill help as much as i can.

[Walt Francis]

I lived in CDA for one year and found it is a nice place, better then most, but not where I prefer to live.  The biggest down side is that Spokane and its 500,000 residents are only twenty miles away....and 25% of them spend their weekends in CDA.  Spokane/CDA is the third largest metropolitan area in the Pacific Northwest, right behind Seattle and Portland, so expect to see people wherever you go.  Get out of town and into the mountains to the north, it is both rugged and beautiful with lots of logging roads for access.  The fly-fishing sucks, at least compared to Montana.  The summers get a little over 100 degrees a few days, but temperature wise they are not bad, definitely cooler then SW Colorado.  Most of CDA lake fish have toxic levels of metal so they are not edible.  The lake is fun to play on if you like speedboats, water skiing, and jet skis, just bring your wet suit.  
I have not been to Pagosa Springs, so I can’t comment on it.

[Steertalker]

I have never been to CDA, but have been to PS.  In fact PS is where I elk hunt every year.  If I were you one thing that I would have to take into consideration is how are the hunting laws structured for each state.  I'm not familiar with Idaho's laws, but as of right now you can still get an OTC archery elk tag in Colorado.  Bear tags are also pretty easy to get as well.  There are a ton of elk and bear in the PS area.  Another thing is that Wolf Creek ski area is just up the road from PS and it is awesome if you like to ski.  And the fishing is great if you know where to go.  At any rate, sounds like either place will suite you.

Brett