San Juan National Forest – by Bayfield

San Juan National Forest covers more than 1.8 million acres in Southwest Colorado. It’s most noted for its staggering San Juan Mountains, some of the steepest in the state.

The views are spectacular in this region of the state, so all the recreation is first rate. Camping or hiking, you’ll have the adventure of a lifetime in the San Juan’s. The Southwest is full of spectacular scenery. It’s an outdoor paradise, with huge alpine peaks and endless forests.

Main Attractions

Activities: Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Picnicking, OHV, Scenic Drives, Winter Rec – Cross Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing

• Read about the camping near Durango and Bayfield.
• Read about the more camping near Cortez, Dolores and Mancos.
• Read about the camping near Telluride, Ophir and Rico.
• Read about the camping near Ouray and Ridgway.

McPhee Recreation Area is a public lake with boating, fishing, camping and hiking in Dolores. You can pass Dolores via the San Juan Skyway, a national scenic byway. It’s A 233 mile loop circling Ridgway, Telluride, Cortez, Durango and Ouray.

Details

Nearby Towns:

• Cortez
• Dolores
• Durango
• Mancos
• Ouray
• Pagosa Springs
• Silverton

Map: San Juan NF Map (shown in dark green) (.jpg)

Motor Vehicle Use Maps: Large, PDF’s from the USFS. They show forest service roads and where dispersed camping is permitted.

• Columbine – Silverton, Durango, Bayfield
• Columbine – Table – Silverton, Durango, Bayfield
• Columbine – Beaver Meadows/Sauls Creek – Bayfield
• Columbine – HD Mountains & Lakes – Bayfield
• Columbine – Lakes Area – Bayfield, Durango
• Mancos-Cortez – Dolores, Cortez, Mancos
• Pagosa – Pagosa Springs

San Juan Campgrounds: Reservations

Website: fs.usda.gov/sanjuan

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