Skip to main content

Recreation

Trails webpages and information will not be available until May 2025. Thank you for your patience while we work through getting the most updated, accurate information for you during this time.

Come and enjoy the natural splendor of the San Juan Mountains and your public lands! The stunning scenery ranges from high desert mesas and canyons to high alpine peaks and meadows. Recreational opportunities abound from fishing to biking, hunting to hiking, OHV riding to simply going to for drive along one of our scenic forest roads. 

In addition, did you know that the San Juan National Forest includes four Wilderness Areas and a National Monument? Explore Chimney Rock National Monument, a culturally-rich area where you can take a step back in time and imagine the landscape as it was a thousand years ago with cultivated fields and settlements extending from the valley floors to the mesa tops.

Showing: 21 - 30 of 66 results

Haviland Lake Campground

Site Open
Picnicking Water Activities Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Hiking Biking
Haviland Lake Campground is located on the shores of Haviland Lake with beautiful views of the Hermosa Cliffs. Of the 43 campsites, 26 are reservable and 17 have electrical hookups. Many sites,…

House Creek Boating Site

Site Open
Water Activities Picnicking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
The House Creek Recreation Complex is across the reservoir from the McPhee Complex. The access road and parking areas are paved. This gently sloping, grassy area is near the reservoir’s high-water…

House Creek Campground

Site Open
Picnicking Water Activities Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Hiking Biking
The House Creek Recreation Complex is across the reservoir from the McPhee Complex and was recently updated with 22 campsites in three loops with 12 reservable sites, 1 group site and 2 picnic areas.…

Jackson Mountain Trailhead

Hiking
Jackson Mountain Trailhead is the beginning of Turkey Creek Trail which climbs above timberline at about 14 miles to meet the Continental Divide Trail at Piedra Pass.

Jersey Jim Lookout

Hiking Off Highway Vehicles (OHV)
Live a little bit of history and enjoy an incredible view in Southwestern Colorado with an one- or two-night stay at the Jersey Jim Fire Lookout Tower. Formerly used to detect fires, the live-in…

Junction Creek Campground

Site Open
Horse Riding and Camping Outdoor Science and Learning Picnicking Hiking Biking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
Junction Creek Campground is located just 5 miles northwest of Durango, is a good base camp for area activities. Four camping loops are nestled amongst the ponderosa pines with a total of 44…

Kroeger Campground

Site Closed
Picnicking Biking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Hiking
Kroeger Campground is located in beautiful La Plata Canyon, with 10 campsites shaded by a mixture of spruce, fir, aspen, and cottonwood. One site has a double table and large parking area. Another is…

Leche Creek Trailhead

Hiking
Leche Creek Trailhead is the start of Leche Creek Trail. The trail is 8.0 miles long, beginning at Forest Road 668 - Leche Creek Road and ending at Navajo Peak Trail (577). The trail is open for…

Lower Hermosa Campground

Site Open
Horse Riding and Camping Hiking
The Lower Hermosa Campground has 19 sites. Although horses are not allowed in the campground, the adjacent Lower Hermosa Creek Trailhead has an area with a horse corral for overnight horse…

Lower Piedra Campground

Site Open
Picnicking Outdoor Science and Learning Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Hiking
The Lower Piedra Campground, located on the west bank of the Piedra River, offers 17 large, level sites with plenty of shade. The river is heavily fished, but good catches are still…