Recreation
From the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the San Juan Mountains, the jagged peaks and rushing rivers of the San Luis Valley public lands wrap themselves around this Rocky Mountain basin. Whether viewing the mountain scenery from roads or finding a challenge on trails, visitors discover solitude and self-reliance through uncrowded year-round recreation opportunities.
While many campgrounds are on a first-come basis, you can make reservations for some campgrounds. In addition, there are eleven cabins that are available for nightly rental.
The Forest offers several accessible recreational facilities and visitor discounts with the Interagency Access Pass for fees charged on national forests.
Start here to find campgrounds, cabin rentals, hiking, horse and motorized trails, fishing access and much more. The Forest covers a lot of ground so you might want to explore the "Recreation Regions" for a more isolated view of your destination.
Use the search tool below to further isolate your location or activity. An example would be to type in "Cabin" to locate the eleven rental cabins the Forest operates. Or you might enter "Fishing" to search the abundant fishing opportunities on the Forest.
The Rio Grande National Forest announced on April 23, 2025 they are seeking candidates such as commercial businesses, nonprofit organizations, community organizations, and educational institutions to provide recreational experiences for individuals or groups on the Conejos Peak and Saguache Ranger Districts. Successful candidates may receive a special use permit to conduct their activity on Rio Grande National Forest lands.
A seemingly endless amount of recreation opportunities are available for you to experience the grandeur of the Rio Grande National Forest. From a causal drive along a paved highway to climbing the 4th highest peak in the state, your recreation experience is only missing you! Learn about the various opportunities here and navigate to the locations where you can experience that activity.
The southern part of the Rio Grande National Forest is known as the Conejos Peak Ranger District.
The northwestern portion of the Rio Grande National Forest hosts some of the most rugged terrain in Colorado.
Encompassing much of the La Garita range, this region was ground zero for one of the largest volcanic eruptions known to man.
The eastern boundary of the Rio Grande National Forest is comprised of the towering Sangre de Cristo Mountain range with its numerous peaks rising over 7000 feet from the v
In the heart of the Rio Grande National Forest lies the town of South Fork, Colorado.
Bear Lake Cutoff Trailhead - Trail # 721.1
Bear Lake Trailhead - Trail # 721
Bear Town Trailhead - Trail # 869
Bear Town Trailhead #869
Beaver Creek Reservoir Boating Site
Beaver Mountain Trail #933
Beaver Mountain Trailhead #933
Benito Creek Trail # 867
Bennett Creek Trail # 872
Big Lake Trail# 706