• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Caves
      • Colorado Brands
      • Escape Rooms
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Lakes
      • Landmarks
      • Mine Tours
      • Mountains
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Performing Arts
      • Public Parks
      • Rivers
      • Scenic Drives
      • Sightseeing Tours
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Winery Tours
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Jeep Rentals
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowbiking
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Boutique Hotels
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos w/ Lodging
    • Hot Spring w/ Lodging
    • Wineries w/ Lodging
    • Best Hotels
    • Dude Ranches
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
san juan mountains in the fall
The San Juan Mountains in the fall. Photo by: David Kingham

San Juan Mountain Range – Southwest Colorado

FacebookTwitter

The San Juan Mountain Range covers the southern part of the Colorado Rockies. Home to numerous jagged volcanic peaks, aquamarine-colored alpine lakes, mineralized rocks, and waterfalls, this particular range is home to some of the most diverse and beautiful terrain in the country.

Stretching 12,000 square miles, there is much to discover in the San Juans. Spanning the Continental Divide, the San Juan Mountains contain rough and jagged volcanic summits, 13 of which rise to over 14,000 feet. The mountains were formed when two continental plates pressed against one another, pushing through the crust of the earth.

san juan mountains with snow
Snow covers the jagged peaks of the San Juans near Silverton. Photo by Scrubhiker.

Its volcanic activity is what formed the mountains and produced metallic minerals like gold and silver in veins throughout the mountain range. Then glaciers formed the mountainโ€™s steep slopes, u-shaped canyons, including the iconic box canyon of Telluride.

This stunning mountain range contains some of the highest and most notched and rugged summits in the continental U.S. It holds 28 peaks above 9,000 feet and 13 peaks above 14,000 feet, with a total of 653 named mountains.

uncompahgre peak in the san juan mountains
Views of the San Juan’s highest peak, Uncompahgre Peak. Photo by OakleyOriginals.

The highest and most prominent is Uncompahgre Peak at 14,309 feet, the sixth-largest in all of the Rocky Mountain chain. Some of the rangeโ€™s most popular peaks include Mt. Sneffels and peaks Hanides, Wetterhorn, Redcloud, and Sunshine.

Mountain runoff from the east side of the range feeds the Rio Grande River. On the other side, its western slope of the continental divide, it is drained by tributaries of the San Juan, Dolores, and Gunnison rivers, which all lead to the Colorado River.

The mountain range is made up of the Uncompahgre, Rio Grande, Carson, and the San Juan National Forests. Within the San Juan National Forest, there are three designated Wilderness areas including, Weminuche Wilderness, Lizard Head Wilderness, and South San Juan Wilderness.

History of the San Juans

camp bird mine near ouray
Upper Camp Bird Mine, between Silverton and Ouray. Photo by W..G. Dayton.

One of the areaโ€™s most unique attractions is its important role in Coloradoโ€™s mining history. As part of the Colorado Mineral Belt, the area is highly mineralized and itโ€™s what brought in settlers to mine for silver, gold, and other minerals. In 1861, gold was discovered in the San Juan Mountains, creating a rush to discover and settle here.

While large-scale mining has ended in the region, visitors can view some of the historic mines that dot this mountain range. Remnants of some of the biggest mines once in operation are still visible within the landscape. These include Camp Bird, Smuggler Union, and the Idarado Mine.

Now many of the old mining camps are tourist attractions and sites for summer homes.

Where are the San Juan Mountains

san juan mountains surround telluride
The San Juans surround the town of Telluride below. Photo by Micheal Buck.

The San Juan Mountains extend to the southeastern part of the state for 150 miles from Ouray into Northern New Mexico. The range expands 120 from west to east and 75 miles from south to major towns, all of which were old mining camps, including Creede, Lake City, Silverton, Ouray, and Telluride.

Directions for access

It is bordered by the U.S. 50 to its north, U.S. 160 to its south, and Colorado 145 to its west, and U.S. Route 285 to its east. Accessing the San Juans is fairly easy with two year-round highways that cover the range from north and south – U.S. 550 and Colorado 149. While there are several roads that cross the mountain range from east to west, they are all 4×4 roads with limited accessibility.

Activities in the San Juan Mountains

With one of the most scenic landscapes in the state, coupled with unique historic destinations, the San Juans are a playground for all! Discover below our favorite things to do in the San Juan Mountains.

Hiking

Most of Coloradoโ€™s most iconic trails reside in the San Juan Mountains. Some are approachable day hikes, some are multi-day backpacking trips, and some involve summiting 14,000+ foot peaks.

Chicago Basin

chicago basin from mount Eolus
Hiking the Chicago Basin, coming down from Mount Eolus. Photo by Robert Tadlock.

Chicago Basin is one of the most popular backpacking routes in the state. It rests in a small part of the Weminuche Wilderness within the San Juan National Forest. The majority of visitors come to this area to climb the three 14ers that border the basin – Mount Eolus, Windom Peak, and Sunlight Peak.

A popular way backpackers access the area is via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to the Needle Creek Trailhead. Once at the trailhead, the hike climbs steadily for roughly six miles to the Chicago Basin. From here, most make a basecamp for exploring nearby trails and peaks.

Colorado Boy Mine

colorado boy mine in the snow
The historic Colorado Boy mine in winter. Photo by fs.usda.gov.

Located in the Ironton Park area, off U.S. 550, near the town of Ouray, the Colorado Boy Mine trail is a great hike that combines history and scenic mountainscapes. The trail is roughly a mile and a half round trip with some moderate climbs. It is a great choice for a quick day hike.

Ice Lakes

ice lake trail near silverton
Upper Ice Lake with its aquamarine water. Photo by Jessica Hughes.

Located just outside of the town of Silverton, Ice Lakes Trail is easily one of the most popular hikes in the state. While not for the faint of heart, an eight-mile round-trip hike gains 3,000 feet in elevation, gets your heart pounding. But the real heart-stopper is reaching the upper ice lakes, which are the highlight of the route with its crystal clear aquamarine water.

Blue Lakes Trail

lower blue lake along the blue lakes trail
Lower Blue Lake of the Blue Lakes Trail. Photo by Marty B.

Blue Lakes Trail guides hikers by creekbeds, turquoise alpine water, and views of Mount Sneffels. This 7.6-mile hike takes you to Lower Blue Lake and is a great choice for its moderate grade and its nearby town access from Ridgway. If you would like to extend the hike and take in more views, continue on the Blue Lakes Trail to Upper Blue Lake.

Mt.Sneffels

views of mount sneffels
View of Mount Sneffels. Photo by Steven Martin.

A popular 14er to summit is Mount Sneffels. Resting at 14,158 feet, Mt. Sneffels towers above the San Juan range in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness. The jagged peak is seen as you drive towards Telluride across Dallas Divide and offers two different access points for the summit. Either Yankee Boy Basin or Blue Lakes.

Mt. Sneffels via Yankee Boy Basin is the most common route to the summit. There are several starting points, all depending on what kind of car you are driving as the road requires a 4×4 vehicle as you get closer to the main trailhead. The route is 7.75 miles round trip from the highest 2WD parking lot.

The Blue Lakes Trail, as mentioned above, is another access point to the summit of Mount Sneffels. After approaching the lower Blue Lakes, hikers will continue to the upper lakes and ultimately Blue Lake Pass to the summit for a 13-mile round trip trek. This is the more strenuous of the two routes and so most set up camp at the lower Blue Lake Trail and summit Mt. Sneffels the next day.

Hike the Continental Divide Trail

alberta peak along the conitnental divide in colorado
Views of Alberta Peak along the Continental Divide near Wolf Creek Pass. Photo by Granger Meador.

The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is a long-distance hiking trail that is typically hiked from south to north, beginning at the Mexican border. Traveling through five states including, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, ending at the Canadian border.

In Colorado, this well-known trail features more than a thousand peaks rising to 10,000 feet in elevation. The CDT crosses 800 miles amongst these towering peaks with historic landmarks, ghost towns, and remnants of the past dotting the route.

The CDT cuts through some of Coloradoโ€™s most beautiful landscapes, including the San Juans. Winding through the alpine tundra, the Weminuche, and the La Garita Wilderness, the CDT stays at or above 11,000 feet for almost 70 miles, known as the crest of the San Juan Mountains.

Continental Divide, section #813 is 54 miles of trail that passes through both the South San Juan and Weninuche Wilderness. Popular trailheads to catch the CDT in the San Juans include Wolf Creek Pass to Rock Lake and Squaw Pass to Weminuche Pass.

Backpacking in the Weminuche Wilderness

hike to lake isabelle in weminuch wilderness
Hiking to Lake Isabelle in the Weminuche Wilderness. Photo by Jessica Hughes.

Within the Weminuche Wilderness, Coloradoโ€™s largest designated wilderness at 499,771 acres, there are numerous trails and places to explore. With an average elevation of 10,000 feet above sea level, the Weminuche is a rugged and expansive landscape. The mountain towns of Durango, Silverton, Pagosa Springs, South Fork, and Creede offer access to the wilderness area.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

durango silverton narrow gauge railway in the fall
Full steam ahead on the Durango & Silverton Railway. Photo by John Fowler.

Tourism is now a major part of the regional economy in the San Juans, and the narrow gauge railway between Durango and Silverton is a major year-round attraction. A National Historic Landmark, this train offers a unique, family-friendly travel experience that blends Coloradoโ€™s history with stunning backcountry beauty.

Every season, the train travels through the towering peaks of the San Juans into Cascade Canyon, and from May through October, the rail transports passengers to and from Silverton. A popular trip is to plan to stay the night in the historic mining town of Silverton at one of its historic hotels, such as the Grand Imperial Hotel.

4×4 Off-Roading

4x4 road up to imogene pass
4×4 road towards Imogene Pass near Telluride. Photo by Jessica Hughes.

4×4 off-roading is a popular activity in the San Juans. Many of these 4×4 roads and trails are made possible by the roads that were built in the 19th century to connect the mining towns in the area.

Labeled the most dangerous road in Colorado, Black Bear Road is a notorious 4×4 route. This challenging one-way-only road plunges from the top of Black Bear Pass heading into the town of Telluride. The route starts from the summit of Red Mountain Pass on U.S. 550 to Telluride, passing the iconic Bridal Veil Falls, Coloradoโ€™s highest waterfall.

This road should only be approached by expert drivers with a proper 4×4 vehicle.

Imogene Pass is another popular 4×4 road between Telluride and Ouray. Its rough and steep terrain ascends and descends along cliffs and overlooks the old Tomboy mine as well as stunning views of the pass.

Other notable mentions include Ophir Pass Road, Animas Fork, and Engineer Pass. Do not take these roads lightly. Many require expert drivers and appropriate off-roading vehicles.

Downhill Skiing

chairlift at telluride ski resort in fall
Chair lifts at Telluride Ski Resort. Photo by Telluride Ski Resort Facebook.

The San Juans are extremely steep and receive a lot of snow, making for a few great ski areas. While there arenโ€™t any major ski resorts like Breckenridge or Keystone, the region boasts several smaller resorts that feature some of the stateโ€™s deepest powder.

Telluride Ski Resort is by far the most popular and most luxurious. Purgatory Resort, near Durango, is a small ski area that locals love. Wolf Creek Ski Area in Pagosa Springs is another great option with an average of 430 inches of snow a year. And for the extreme skier, Silverton Mountain is the best for the steepest heli and lift-served skiing.

San Juan Skyway

driving the san juan skyway
Driving the San Juan Skyway between Ridgway and Ouray. Photo by Kent Kanouse.

For the road-trippers, the San Juan Skyway is a must. Many of the mountainโ€™s well-known sites and its most picturesque landscape are found along this scenic 200-mile loop. The route encompasses much of the western segment of the range via State Highways 145 and 62, plus U.S. Highways 550 and 160.

The historic byway covers dramatic scenery, winding mountain passes, historic mining camps, and passing through some of the stateโ€™s most popular and picturesque towns – Telluride, Ouray, and Silverton.

Bachelor Loop Historic Tour

historic mine along the bachelor loop tour
The Amethyst Mine along the Bachelor Loop Tour. Photo by woodleywonderworks.

Another popular driving route is the Bachelor Loop Historic Tour. This is a 17-mile drive through the historic mining district that sits above the town of Creede. The tour takes you by the old mining locations from the 1890s and deserted ghost towns that once were the size of Creede. While a 4×4 vehicle isnโ€™t required, it is recommended.

The San Juans are arguably some of the most beautiful and diverse mountains in the state and with these experiences, youโ€™ll soon see why!

Details

Closest towns:

  • Bayfield
  • Cortez
  • Dolores
  • Durango
  • Mancos
  • Ouray
  • Pagosa Springs
  • Ridgway
  • Silverton
  • Telluride

Season: Year-round

Subrange of: Rocky Mountains

San Juan Mountain Subranges:

  • La Plata Mountains

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. โ€”and never miss out again.

Recent Posts

  • The Top Wine Shops around Denver
  • 9 Best Motorcycle Rides in Colorado
  • 2022-23 Colorado Ski Resort Season Opening & Closing Dates
  • 12 Marvelous Hiking Trails near Montrose
  • Things to do in April in Colorado

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 ยท Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise