Roads
North Pagosa Boulevard washed out between Mission and Hills Circle in late October, with traffic detoured to Piedra Road (Pagosa Sun, Oct 29 and Nov 1, 2026). Water from Pinion Lake crossed the highway.
Water Damage & Flood Cleanup in Pagosa Lakes, CO
Pagosa Lakes is where most of the Pagosa Springs area lives, and a lot of its homes sit empty for part of the year. Describe the leak or flood once and the independent restoration companies we connect you with can reply with free, no-obligation quotes.
Get a Free QuoteIf you are under an evacuation order, leave now. As of November 1, 2026, a second San Juan River crest is forecast for tonight and mandatory evacuations are in effect in Pagosa Springs. Don't go back into a flooded building until officials say it is safe, and turn off power only if you can do it without standing in water. This page will still be here later. Current details: the 2026 flood recovery guide.
Pagosa Lakes by the numbers
There is no Census place called Pagosa Lakes, so the closest measure is ZIP code 81147, which covers the Town of Pagosa Springs, the Pagosa Lakes subdivisions and the country around them. In the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey that ZIP had about 13,091 residents and 9,402 housing units.
- 33.3% of those units are seasonal or recreational homes.
- 80.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
- The median home was built in 1996, younger than the downtown stock.
- Pagosa Springs sits near 7,100 feet, with January lows averaging about 1°F.
The everyday risk here is less the river than a supply line that freezes in a crawl space or exterior wall while nobody is home.
October and November 2026 in Pagosa Lakes
Figures as of November 1, 2026. They will change as the second crest passes and assessments continue.
Shelter
The PLPOA Clubhouse served as an evacuation center in October and was set to reopen as a shelter on November 1, 2026. Check the Town and County for current shelter status.
Countywide
On October 27, 2026 the County estimated about 800 structures impacted, including about 540 homes. That count came before the second crest forecast for November 1.
Second homes: what to ask before winter
A pipe that splits on a cold night in an occupied house gets noticed in minutes. In an empty cabin it can run for days. By the time a neighbor sees ice on the siding, the subfloor, insulation and crawl space can all be soaked.
- Ask a neighbor or property manager to check heat and shut off the water if you are away for the winter.
- Read your policy's vacancy and freeze conditions. Many policies treat an unoccupied home differently, so check yours rather than assume.
- Know where the main shutoff and the well pump breaker are, and write it down for whoever checks the house.
- If you find a leak, take photos and video before anything is moved, then call your insurer.
Companies that handle frozen and burst pipes typically extract standing water, open wet cavities and run drying equipment with daily moisture readings. If water reached the crawl space, ask about crawl space drying too. Flood water from outside is a different job; see flood cleanup and water extraction.
Checking a company. Colorado has no state license for water damage restoration. If the property is inside Town limits, ask for the Town of Pagosa Springs business license; unincorporated Archuleta County has no business license to check. Either way, ask for an insurance certificate and a written estimate, a state plumbing license for any pipe repair, and IICRC training if you want it. Complaints go to the Colorado Attorney General.
Request quotes for a Pagosa Lakes property
Tell us the address area, what leaked or flooded, roughly when, and whether you have a well or septic system. Independent companies serving Pagosa Lakes reply to you directly. You can also call (970) 408-5771.
For planning, a typical water damage job runs $1,200 to $5,000 and a wet crawl space $1,500 to $5,000 in national published ranges (Fixr, HomeGuide). Those are not local quotes. See the cost guide.
Pagosa Lakes questions
Is Pagosa Lakes inside the Town of Pagosa Springs?
Check your own address with the County, because it matters for permits and licensing: inside Town limits, contractors and their subs need a Town business license and permits go through the Town Building Division; in unincorporated Archuleta County, permits go through the County.
I own a second home in Pagosa Lakes and live out of state. Can I still get quotes?
Yes. Describe the problem and give a local contact, such as a neighbor or property manager who can open the house. Independent companies can reply to you by phone or email. Ask each one how they document the job with photos and moisture readings so you can follow progress from a distance.
Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe in a vacant cabin?
It depends on your policy. Sudden pipe bursts are often a covered peril, but many policies have vacancy and freeze conditions, such as keeping heat on or shutting off water. In Colorado your insurer must give you a copy of your policy within 3 business days of a request, so ask for it and read those sections.
Nearby areas
Flood or water damage? Get free quotes.
Tell us what happened and independent restoration companies serving Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County can reply with no-obligation quotes.