Hiking

San Juan National Forest is known for spectacular high elevation hiking and extensive backcountry opportunities. Whether hiking for a day or heading to the backcountry for several nights, the scenery will take your breath away and perhaps you will leave feeling a bit more connected to this gorgeous, but rugged country. 

Spotlights

• Colorado Trail: From Denver to Durango, the Colorado Trail passes through 88 miles of the San Juan National Forest. All the information you need to know before you hit the trail can be found at Colorado Trail Foundation with up-to-date conditions, closures, etc.
• Continental Divide Trail (CDT): The CDT travels 3,100 miles from the Canadian to the Mexican border with approximately 152 miles traversing through the Pagosa and Columbine Districts of the San Juan National Forest. Before heading out, visit the Continental Divide Trail Coalition website and make sure to check the closures & alerts to find out if there are any closures, fire bans, or other restrictions affecting the section of trail you’d like to visit.

Resources to Help Plan Your Adventure

• Pagosa Trails: Local non-profit that provides detailed information about trails in the Pagosa Springs area.
• San Juan Mountains Association: Local non-profit that provides detailed information on the areas most popular trails, alternatives to these popular trails, and how you can help leave-no-trace so all can enjoy
• Mancos Trail Group: Local non-profit comprised of an all-volunteer community that maintains local trails and provides updated trail information

Backpacking

Miles of beautiful scenic trails with close-up views of towering mountain peaks and crystal clear lakes, along with peaceful solitude, reward those backpacking on the San Juan National Forest. 

San Juan National Forest encompasses four Wilderness areas (Weminuche, South San Juan, Lizard Head and Hermosa) which make the perfect backpacking experience.

Day Hikes

The San Juan National Forest has hundreds of trails, many within a short drive of Durango, Dolores, Mancos, Bayfield, Silverton, and Pagosa Springs. Opportunities for day hikes abound.

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Recreation Opportunities

Backpacking (49)

Day Hikes (27)

Hiking (111)

Showing: 81 - 90 of 136 results

Middle Mountain Campground

Site Open

Middle Mountain Campground is located on Vallecito Reservoir and near the Pine River. It has 24 sites with southern exposure and easy access to the water. The campground is very open and sunny,…

Miller Creek Campground

Site Open

Miller Creek Campground is located where Miller Creek flows into Lemon Reservior.  It has 12 campsites with a choice of sun or shade and easy access to the water; 5 of the sites share a large…

Missionary Ridge Trail

Missionary Ridge Trail #543 is excellent during late spring through mid-fall, due to its relatively low elevation and southeast-facing slopes. The trail winds through timber on the lower section, but…

Morrison Trail

Morrison Trail (610) branches off of Bear Creek Trail (607) to the right after 0.3 miles from the Bear Creek Trailhead. This 11 mile trail travels a steep 2.75 miles out of the Dolores River valley…

Needle Creek Trail

The Needle Creek Trail #504 is a wildly popular trail that brings backpackers from either the Animas River Trail #675 or the Needleton train stop into Chicago Basin. NOTE that on an average summer…

North Canyon Campground

Site Open

Located near Vallecito Reservoir, North Canyon Campground provides 21 sites including 9 first-come, first-serve sites. This area is a bit more open than Graham Creek Campground and has large…

North Canyon Trail

North Canyon Trail #656 is 2.0 miles long and popular for horseback riders. The trail takes off just across the road from the North Canyon Campground. The trail takes you through ponderosa pine and…

Opal Lake Trailhead

Opal Lake Trailhead is the beginning of Opal Lake Trail. The trail is 1.2 miles long, beginning at Forest Road 23 - Opal Lake Road and ending at Opal Lake. The trail is open for the following…

Palisades Horse Campground

Site Open

The Palisades Horse Campground is only for people camping with livestock. A one-way loop offers pull-throughs and back-in units at 12 campsites: 8 individual sites and 4 double sites. Each site has…

Pass Creek Trail

Pass Creek Trail #500 is the quickest access to Engineer Mountain. This very popular trail (with both hikers and mountain bikers) climbs above U.S. 550 up moderate switchbacks. From there, it’s a…