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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: 31 - 40 of 64 results

Mavreeso Campground

Site Open
Picnicking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Biking Hiking
Mavreeso Campground, located along the West Dolores River has 19 beautifully situated campsites. Many of the campsites are along the river and most are level. There are 12 reservable sites, 5…

McPhee Boating Site

Site Open
Water Activities Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Hiking
The McPhee Recreation Complex is on the south shore of McPhee Reservoir. McPhee Boat Ramp is open mid-April through October. There is mandatory mussel inspections on site.The McPhee Recreation…

McPhee Campground

Site Open
Outdoor Science and Learning Water Activities Hiking Biking
McPhee Reservoir, the largest in the San Juan National Forest and second largest in Colorado, has 50 miles of shoreline in piñon, juniper, and sagebrush country. The McPhee Campground is on a mesa…

Middle Mountain Campground

Site Closed
Picnicking Off Highway Vehicles (OHV) Hiking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
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 Closed
Picnicking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Hiking Water Activities
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…

North Canyon Campground

Site Open
Picnicking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Hiking Water Activities
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…

Opal Lake Trailhead

Hiking
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 Closed
Horse Riding and Camping Hiking
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…