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San Juan National Forest, Colorado
San Juan National Forest, Colorado. Photo: San Juan National Forest, Colorado. Photo: Stefan Serena

San Juan National Forest – near Bayfield

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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

Image of the Dolores River in Colorado during winter

Dolores River – near Dolores

Dolores River Whitewater Rafting

Dolores River Whitewater Rafting – Dolores

Electra Lake Colorado

Electra Lake – Durango

Image of the Yankee Girl Mine in Guston, Colorado

Guston, CO Ghost Town – by Ouray

Haviland Lake Colorado

Haviland Lake SWA – Durango

Image of the La Plata River at Highway 140 in Colorado

La Plata River – near Durango

Aerial view of the Lemon Reservoir, CO

Lemon Reservoir – Durango

Little Molas Lake, CO

Little Molas Lake – Silverton

Lizard Head Pass, Colorado

Lizard Head Pass – Telluride-Rico

Lizard Head Wilderness Cross Peak Colorado

Lizard Head Wilderness – near Telluride

Image of the Los Pinos river looking north in Colorado

Los Pinos River – near Bayfield-Ignacio

Image of the Mancos River in Colorado flowing through trees

Mancos River – near Mancos

McPhee Reservoir West Side Dolores Colorado

McPhee Reservoir Recreation Area – Dolores

Molas Lake Silverton Colorado

Molas Lake – Silverton

Molas Pass, CO

Molas Pass – Silverton-Durango

Image of the Piedra River in Colorado

Piedra River – near Pagosa Springs

Piedra River Pagosa Springs CO

Piedra River Whitewater Rafting – Pagosa Springs

Spud Lake Colorado

Potato Lake – Durango-Silverton

San Juan River Passing The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs CO

San Juan River – near Pagosa Springs

San Juan River Rafting Pagosa Springs CO

San Juan River Whitewater Rafting – Pagosa Springs

San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway

San Juan Skyway Byway – Southwest CO

South San Juan Wilderness

South San Juan Wilderness – Pagosa Springs

Vallecito Lake Bayfield Colorado

Vallecito Lake – Bayfield

Weminuche Wilderness Colorado

Weminuche Wilderness – Durango

Williams Creek Reservoir Pagosa Springs Colorado

Williams Creek Reservoir – Pagosa Springs

Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado

Wolf Creek Pass – South Fork-Pagosa Springs

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.
National Forests Grasslands Map
Map of 11 national forests and 2 grasslands.

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.

San Juan National Forest, Colorado
San Juan National Forest, Colorado. Photo: Al_HikesAZ
Driving the San Juan Skyway, CO
Driving the San Juan Skyway. Photo: Kent Kanouse
San Juan National Forest
Great Divide separates the Rio Grande and San Juan National Forests.

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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