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.
SCAN to PAY starts Labor Day Weekend 2026
Starting Labor Day weekend, The Rio Grande National Forest will utilize Scan and Pay through the Recreation.gov mobile application for all site fees at these specific campgrounds:
Rock Creek Campground
Comstock Campground
Cathedral Campground
Rio Grande Campground
Ivy Creek Campground
The Recreation.gov Scan and Pay app gives visitors a convenient and cashless option to pay recreation fee.
How it works- Download the Recreation.gov mobile app on your phone while you are still in cell service! When you are at a site with a Scan and Pay QR code, open the app, select the “Scan” option, and follow the instructions.
After completing the scan and pay process, you can write down the transaction confirmation number and display it in a visible location on your vehicle.
*No cell signal?* No problem! You will still receive a confirmation number, and your transaction will be processed once you are back in cell service.
Please Note: Scan and Pay passes are not used at the Rio Grande National Forest concessionaire managed campgrounds and only at the sites listed above.
Cell phone connectivity is limited in many remote areas of the national forest. Plan ahead and visit https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app to download the app.
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.
Recreation
Acascosa Trail
Adams Fork Trail # 713
Adams Fork Trailhead, Trail 713
Alamosa Campground
Alamosa Rock Trail #703
Alamosa Trailhead and Trail #703
Alberta Lake Fishing Site
Alder Bench Trail # 799
Alder Bench Trailhead #799
Alder Guard Station Cabin