San Juan National Forest

Covering nearly 1.9 million acres in southwestern Colorado's San Juan Mountains, San Juan National Forest protects some of the most rugged and mineralized terrain in the Rocky Mountains, with peaks exceeding 14,000 feet and deep valleys carved by ancient glaciers. The forest encompasses the western portion of the vast Weminuche Wilderness and the South San Juan Wilderness, together offering hundreds of miles of backcountry trails through alpine tundra, flower-filled meadows, and dense spruce-fir forests. The legendary Million Dollar Highway (US 550) traverses the forest between Silverton and Ouray, widely considered one of the most dramatic mountain drives in North America.\n\nHistoric narrow-gauge railroads, including the Durango and Silverton Railroad, wind through the forest's steep canyons, connecting visitors to a rich mining heritage that shaped the region in the late 1800s. Chimney Rock National Monument preserves a remarkable Ancestral Puebloan archaeological site with twin rock spires aligned to a rare lunar event. The forest supports world-class backcountry skiing, mountain biking on trails like the Colorado Trail, and fly fishing on the Animas, Dolores, and Piedra Rivers, while its diverse ecosystems provide habitat for elk, black bears, peregrine falcons, and the reintroduced Canada lynx.