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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 – by Bayfield

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The 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 here are spectacular, so all the recreation is first-rate.

Camping or hiking, you’ll have the adventure of a lifetime in the San Juans; it’s an outdoor paradise, with huge alpine peaks and endless forests. With routes like the San Juan Scenic Byway to soak it all in, it’s a delight exploring this stunning part of Colorado.

Main Attractions

The San Juan National Forest covers the southern half of the massive and complex San Juan Mountains. There are numerous peaks, rivers, lakes, and remote stretches in the forest, including the Weminuche Wilderness, the largest in the state. Parts of the forest are accessible from Cortez, Durango, Pagosa Springs, Silverton, Telluride, and Ouray.

Andrews Lake, Colorado

Andrews Lake SWA – Silverton

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

upper ice lakes with blue waters

Ice Lakes Basin – Silverton

Image of Taylor Lake and the Cumberland Basin in Colorado on the Kennebec Pass

Kennebec Pass – near 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 – by 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 Opal Lake in Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Opal Lake – Pagosa Springs

Image of the Piedra River in Colorado

Piedra River – near Pagosa Springs

Piedra River Hot Springs

Piedra River Hot Springs – Arboles

Piedra River Pagosa Springs CO

Piedra River Whitewater Rafting – Pagosa Springs

Spud Lake Colorado

Potato Lake – Durango-Silverton

san juan mountains in the fall

San Juan Mountain Range – Southwest Colorado

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 – by Pagosa Springs

Vallecito Lake Bayfield Colorado

Vallecito Lake – Bayfield

Weminuche Wilderness Colorado

Weminuche Wilderness – by Durango

Williams Creek Reservoir Pagosa Springs Colorado

Williams Creek Reservoir – Pagosa Springs

Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado

Wolf Creek Pass – South Fork-Pagosa Springs

Map of San Juan National Forest

Bordering the San Juan National Forest are the Uncompahgre to the north and west, and the Rio Grande to the north and east.

Biking

Road biking options in the San Juan National Forest center on US 550. The road has generally wide shoulders and crests three high mountain passes between Ouray and Durango (Coal Bank, Molas, and Red Mountain Pass). US 160 also offers road shoulder biking and plenty of ups and downs, including the 10,857 foot Wolf Creek Pass.

Mountain Bikers will find plenty to love about this part of Colorado. Purgatory Ski Resort north of Durango has a great network of mountain biking trails for the summer; riders can also bike various sections of the Colorado Trail as it winds north through the mountains. The Engineer Mountain Trail from Coal Bank Pass is a local favorite, along with the demanding Calico Trail near the small town of Rico.

A mountain biker enjoying the trails near Engineer Mountain.
A mountain biker enjoying the rolling singletrack with Engineer Mountain guarding the horizon. Photo by: dinlaroche

Boating

With an elaborate network of reservoirs and natural lakes, the San Juan National Forest has a lot to offer boating enthusiasts. Vallecito Lake is easy to access from Durango and Pagosa Springs and allows boating of all kinds with a full-service marina on-site. McPhee Reservoir, near the town of Dolores, is the fifth largest body of water in Colorado and another popular boating option.

Lemon Reservoir, located near Vallecito Lake, doesn’t allow motorized boating but is a popular spot for sailing and windsurfing. Williams Creek Reservoir allows wakeless boating as well as non-motorized options. There are hundreds of alpine and subalpine lakes throughout the national forest as well that can support non-motorized boating, although many require hikes to reach.

Looking across Vallecito Lake towards sharp summits in the San Juan National Forest.
Looking across Vallecito Lake towards sharp summits in the San Juan National Forest. Photo by: fritzmb

Camping

There are quite a few camping options in the San Juan National Forest, with a high concentration around Durango and Bayfield. Further east, the camping near Pagosa Springs is first-rate as well, with plenty of sites in beautiful settings.

Missionary Ridge, north of Durango, has a series of old forest service roads that make for perfect primitive camping. The sites at Little Molas Lake and the larger, town of Silverton run Molas Lake Campground are often listed as some of the most beautiful spots to camp in Colorado. Additionally, the reliable Burro Bridge and Cayton Campground near the Lizard Head Wilderness have a good variety of sites.

  • Read about the camping near Durango and Bayfield.
  • Read about the camping near Cortez, Dolores, and Mancos.
  • Read about theย camping near Telluride, Ophir, and Rico.
  • Read about theย camping near Ouray and Ridgway.
Little Molas Lake, CO
Little Molas Lake, CO. Photo by: jennette cross

Fishing

Fishing in the San Juans can be a sublime experience. Between Vallecito Lake, Lemon Reservoir, Williams Creek Reservoir, Molas Lake, and McPhee Reservoir; there are enough lake options to enthrall fishing enthusiasts for years.

The mountains also help create fantastic river fishing opportunities. The Animas River, which flows through downtown Durango, and the San Juan River near Pagosa Springs are well-known for their native trout and fishable sections. Other mountain streams like Hermosa Creek, Florida River, the Dolores River, and the Piedra River are also sure to delight those willing to do a little more exploring.

Looking down at a mountain river between green mesas with steep sides and dense tree cover along their tops.
Looking down at the Piedra River as it flows south through the San Juan National Forest. Photo by: Daniel

Hiking

The San Juans have the highest concentration of alpine environments in Colorado, and the hiking here is second to none. Take a shot at scrambling up Engineer Mountain, an iconic and obvious peak north of Durango, or climb up to the well-known and well-loved Ice Lakesย west of Silverton.

For more demanding adventures, consider traveling to the remote and gorgeous Chicago Basin, rimmed by three 14ers and deep within the Weminuche Wilderness. The Lizard Head Wilderness also contains three rugged 14ers and boundless backpacking and hiking routes. Being such a complex topographical area, there are many lesser-known subranges to sink your teeth into as well, including the beautiful La Plata Mountains or the Southern San Juans.

High alpine area of the San Juan Mountains with crystal clear lakes, green slopes, rocky cliffs and summit pinnacles.
Looking across Twin Lakes to the 14ers Sunlight and Windom in Chicago Basin. Photo by: Timo Holmquist

OHV

The San Juans are very OHV friendly, and the routes are spectacular. Lime Creek Road is a local favorite near Durango, and Kennebec Pass in the La Plata Mountains is a challenging and view-ridden journey. The roads on Missionary Ridge, another Durango favorite, run from 2WD compatible to 4×4 necessary and can provide days of fun.

East of Pagosa Springs, the moderate Mill Creek-Nipple Mountain Road provides stunning scenery, while north of town, the Black Mountain Road to the shoulder of Pagosa Peak is a serious out and back undertaking. There are hundreds of OHV trails in the region that are begging to be explored. ATV rentals are available in Durango, Silverton, Pagosa, and Cortez.

Verdant vegetation and alpine lakes beneath the towering La Plata Mountains.
Mountain scenery near Kennebec Pass, Colorado. Photo by: Daniel Weber

Scenic Drives

The San Juan National Forest contains more than half of the San Juan Skyway, a 233-mile loop and national scenic byway, connecting Ridgway, Telluride, Cortez, Durango, and Ouray. With stunning sections on US 550 up to Molas Pass, and CO 145 over Lizard Head Pass, the route is arguably the prettiest loop in all of Colorado.

US 160, which connects Durango, Pagosa Springs, and Wolf Creek Pass, is another stunner. The undulating road passes many of the area’s most famous bodies of water, offers unparalleled views of Chimney Rock, and climbs to nearly 11,000 feet as it crosses the Continental Divide.

A red sunrise over the snow-capped Twilight Range in the San Juan National Forest.
Dawn colors near Coal Bank Pass, easily accessed via the San Juan Skyway. Photo by: Timo Holmquist

Winter Recreation

Large and wild, the San Juan National Forest provides access to stellar winter recreation. Purgatory Ski Resort, only half an hour north of Durango, is the defacto area ski mountain with modern amenities and well-groomed runs. On the eastern side of Wolf Creek Pass lies the ski area of Wolf Creek, long known as the snowiest ski area in Colorado. Despite its small size, Hesperus Ski Area, between Durango and Cortez, is also a great place for locals to get a few turns.

Snowmobiling in this part of Colorado is highly rewarding, with thousands of acres available for exploration. If you’re looking for something a little different, Pagosa Springs has a reputable dogsledding outfit that’s worth checking out. And while Ouray tends to get most of the regional ice climbing attention, Treasure Falls, box canyons along the Piedra River, and Cascade Canyon can provide wonderful icy climbs, conditions permitting.

The town of Silverton, just north of the national forest boundary, adds to the adventure with its own hardcore ski mountain, additional snowmobile rentals, and access to backcountry skiing.

Driving the San Juan Skyway, CO
Long mountain roads and snowy peaks along the San Juan Skyway. Photo by: Kent Kanouse

The San Juan National Forest is loaded with more adventures than one lifetime can manage. The limitless mountains, rivers, canyons, and wildernesses highlight precisely why the centennial state is always high on any outdoor adventurers list.

Details

Nearby Towns:

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

Map: San Juan NF Map (JPG)

Recreation: Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Picnicking, OHV, Scenic Drives, Cross Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing

Motor Vehicle Use Maps:

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

San Juan Campgrounds: Reservations

Website: fs.usda.gov/sanjuan

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