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Nature & Science
The Rio Grande National Forest spans over 1.8 million acres in a forested ring around the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado. From the high peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Range to rugged canyons and ancient calderas, the Forest has a wide range of habitats and areas to explore and learn about.
Visit some of our web pages to learn more about the plants, animals, and geology of this special place.
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Fish and Wildlife
The Rio Grande National Forest has a wide variety of habitats that provide homes for many species from insects like the white-veined arctic butterfly to the tiny pika. Native trout and elk, deer, and bighorn sheep live across the Forest.
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Plants and Trees
A wide range of elevations and aspects provides many unique habitats for plants from common to rare. While we do have many native plants, there are some invasives species found on the Forest.
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Geology
Ancient volcanos created calderas, deep craters, throughout the mountains and left behind rocks rich in many minerals. Glaciers scraped peaks and carved valleys across the forest.
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Water
The Rio Grande National Forest is named because it holds the headwaters of the Rio Grande River. The forest is crossed by many creeks and rivers, all of which eventually join the Rio Grande River and flow to the Gulf of Mexico.
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Research
Learn more about research on National Forests from the Rock Mountain Research Station. The Rock Mountain Research Station has many great resources to learn more about the region!
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Land Water People Articles
Land, Water, and People articles are published regularly in the SLV Lifestyles supplement and the Valley Courier Newspapers. Pick up a paper to see the most recent articles or check out our webpage to read past articles.
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Forest Specialist Series Program
The Forest Specialist Series is a monthly online event, hosted by our partners at the San Juan Mountains Association (SJMA) and is designed to be both informational and interactive. Learn more about the Forest by joining one of these programs.
Features
Land, Water & People Articles
Land, Water, and People articles are published regularly in the SLV Lifestyles supplement and the Crestone Eagle and Valley Courier Newspapers in the beautiful San Luis Valley in Colorado.
