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, Cross Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing

• Read about the camping near Durango and Bayfield.
• Read about the 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 (JPG)

Motor Vehicle Use Maps:

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

San Juan Campgrounds: Reservations

Website: fs.usda.gov/sanjuan

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