Pagosa Springs sits at 7,079 feet in the San Juan Mountains, and many homes around it were built to handle sloped lots and heavy snow. That usually means raised entries, walkout basements and split-level floor plans, each with its own run of stairs inside or out.
Out toward Arboles and across the county's 1,356 square miles, homes range from ranch-style houses and cabins to modular homes and low-rise buildings. This page walks through how those homes affect the kind of stair lift that fits, and which local and federal programs are worth a phone call before you pay out of pocket.
A split-level or multi-level house often has several short flights instead of one long one. A straight stair lift handles a single run with no turns. If the stairs turn at a landing, or you want one lift to cover two flights, a curved lift built to your staircase is usually the answer.
Walkout basements tend to have one straight flight down to the lower level, which is often the simplest install in the house. Ranch-style homes may have no interior stairs at all, so the problem there is usually the steps at the front or back door.
Wolf Creek Ski Area nearby averages 38 feet of snow a year, and that kind of snow load is why so many local entries are raised off the ground. Those exterior steps can be the hardest part of getting in and out of the house in winter.
An outdoor stair lift is built for weather, but it still needs a clear path, so plan on keeping the rail and steps shoveled. For someone who uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may make more sense than a seat-style lift at a raised entry. We look at the steps, the landing and the drop before recommending either one.
As of the 2020 census, 57.8% of county residents lived in rural areas, much of it mountainous and higher in elevation. Distance and snow season can make it harder to line up contractors and in-home help, so it pays to plan a lift before an urgent need comes up.
An accurate measurement matters more when a second trip is a long drive. Cabins and older homes can have steep or narrow stairs, and a site visit tells us whether a standard rail fits or the stairs need a custom solution.
About 19.1% of residents are 65 or older, and the source lists a 2024 median age of 52.1 years. Many people here are planning to stay in homes that were built around stairs.
If that includes you or a parent, start with the county veterans office, since several VA housing grants run through a claims process they can help with.
No program on this page names stair lifts as a covered item, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides and porch lifts. Several programs do fund home modifications more broadly, so ask each one directly whether a stair lift qualifies in your case.
Veterans should talk with Archuleta County Veterans Services about the SAH and SHA grants. Lower-income rural homeowners can ask USDA Rural Development about Section 504 repair loans and grants. For counseling on aging services, the Region 9 Economic Development District AAA in Durango can be reached at (970) 247-9621.
At the state level, you can also ask about the Assistive Technology Act Program of Colorado (AT Partners), VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) and the Colorado Senior Property Tax Exemption (Senior Homestead Exemption). Details for each are in the program list below.
A lifetime grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically necessary home alterations for veterans; stair glides and porch lifts are excluded, so it will not pay for a stair lift. Call (970) 264-4013.
Up to $126,526 for FY 2026 for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities who own or will own the home; the source gives ramps and wider doorways as examples and does not mention stair lifts. Call (877) 827-3702.
Up to $25,350 for FY 2026 for veterans or qualifying family members with certain service-connected disabilities; stair lifts are not named in the source. Call (877) 827-3702.
Loans up to $40,000 and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners age 62+ who cannot repay a loan, combined up to $50,000, for low-income owners in eligible rural areas including Archuleta County; accessibility examples include ramps and walk-in tubs, but stair lifts are not named. Call (719) 414-6039.
Offers information, options counseling, benefits enrollment and referrals for older adults and caregivers, with no stair lift benefit listed; the agency has given up its Area Agency on Aging designation, with new leadership targeted for November 1, 2026, so confirm who is administering services. Call (970) 264-0501.
Free services for people with disabilities in the five-county region, including housing referrals and paperwork help; stair lifts and home modifications are not mentioned. Call (970) 259-1672.
Offers credit counseling, weatherization and housing rehabilitation for low-income homeowners in the region; stair lifts are not mentioned, so ask about current program scope. Call (970) 259-1086.
Helps veterans and dependents with VA benefit applications and claims from 502 S. 8th Street in Pagosa Springs; it does not fund modifications directly but is the local starting point for VA housing grants. Call (970) 264-4013.
Older adults
295 Girard Street, Suite B, Durango, 81303
Veterans
502 S. 8th Street, Pagosa Springs, 81147
No. The HISA grant lists stair glides and porch lifts among its excluded items. Veterans with severe service-connected disabilities can ask about the SAH or SHA grants instead, though the source for those does not name stair lifts either.
USDA Section 504 offers grants up to $10,000 for homeowners age 62+ who cannot repay a loan, if household income is below 50% of area median income. Archuleta County is eligible territory. Call (719) 414-6039 and ask whether a stair lift counts.
The San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging has given up its designation, with new leadership targeted for November 1, 2026. You can try the Region 9 Economic Development District AAA at (970) 247-9621 or the San Juan Basin number at (970) 264-0501, and confirm who is handling services.
Yes, outdoor stair lifts are made for that. With the snow this area gets, the steps and rail need to be kept clear. If the person uses a wheelchair, a platform lift may be the better fit.
Archuleta County Veterans Services is at 502 S. 8th Street, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147. The officer is Raymond Taylor, and the phone is (970) 264-4013.
Sometimes. Each straight flight can take its own straight lift, or a curved lift can follow the stairs around a landing. We measure the stairs in person to see which approach fits.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
