San Juan National Forest
 

Recreation
Photo near the summit of Blackhead Peak.

The San Juan National Forest includes approximately 1.8 million acres of federal lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service in Southwestern Colorado. The scenery ranges from high desert mesas and canyons to high alpine peaks and meadows. The area features a National Forest scenic byway, the San Juan Skyway and a Bureau of Land Management 4WD scenic byway, Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway.Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, alpine and nordic skiing, horseback riding, and camping. Come and enjoy the natural splendor of the San Juan Mountains and your public lands!

The San Juan National Forest shares management of three designated Wilderness areas: the Weminuche Wilderness, The Lizard Head Wilderness and the South San Juan Wilderness. For more information visit our Wilderness Page.

To order maps and guide books, or for information on educational and volunteer programs, please visit the San Juan Mountains Association website at www.sjma.org.

Use the sidebar menus on the left or right to find more details on an area or activity.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

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Spotlights

Alpine Loop

Photo of Alpine Loop near Silverton.

The 65-mile Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway winds through the alpine terrain of the San Juan Mountains, connecting the towns of Lake City, Ouray, and Silverton. Recommended for four-wheel drive vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and mountain bikes.

For more information on the Alpine Loop go to the BLM Alpine Loop page.

Chimney Rock Archeaological Area

Photo of Chimney Rock Archeaological Area.

The Chimney Rock Interpretive Program, managed and staffed by the National Forest Service and volunteers ofthe Chimney Rock Interpretive Association, conducts daily guided walking tours and operates the Visitor Center from May 15 to Sept. 30. For more information, go to:  wwww.chimneyrockco.org/mainnew.htm