San Juan National Forest

Located on the western slope of the Continental Divide in southwestern Colorado is the spectacular San Juan National Forest. Covering an estimated 1,869,931 acres, the San Juan National Forest is over 120 miles long and more than 60 miles wide. The diverse terrain found here provides numerous adventure opportunities for the hiker, historian, angler, anthropologist, mountain biker, kayaker, and skier.

In the vast San Juan National Forest, you will find alpine lakes, canyons, cataracts, waterfalls, unusual geologic formations, historic mines and broad variations in elevation. Archeological ruins of the ancient Pueblo People are preserved at Chimney Rock.

The Needle Mountains are a haven for mountain climbers. The Weminuche Wilderness and the Lizard Head Wilderness both lie within the San Juan National Forest. You can only access the wilderness areas by foot or by horse. Throughout the forest, you will find campgrounds and picnic sites. There are many opportunities for fishing in the high alpine lakes, meandering streams and reservoirs.

Due to the high elevation, there are some areas where snow remains year round. The days are cool and the temperatures can dip to below freezing even in the midst of summer. Remember to go prepared when exploring this area.

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