San Juan National Forest - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Forests

About San Juan National Forest

The San Juan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest covering over 1,878,846 acres in western Colorado. It encompasses about 1.8 million acres in the southwestern corner of Colorado. From high-desert mesas to alpine peaks, these federal lands are managed for multiple uses and visitors are asked to respect each other and the natural resources.

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Attractions Near San Juan National Forest

Chimney Rock National Monument

Chimney Rock National Monument

1.53km from San Juan National Forest

This is a sacred place that celebrates the life of Ancestral Puebloans over 1000 years ago. It lies on 4,726 acres of San Juan National Forest land surrounded by the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Housing approximately 2,000 ancient Pueblo Indians between AD 925 and 1125, the settlement included a Great House Pueblo with round ceremonial rooms, known as kivas, and 36 ground-floor rooms.

Horse Mountain

Horse Mountain

14.36km from San Juan National Forest

A majestic peak in the San Juan Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. It is an isolated forest and woodland providing habitat for wildlife including mule deer, elk, golden eagles, mountain lions, bobcats, and occasionally, bald eagles. UIt is also a good trekking destination and also there is so many things to see and do.

Sheep Creek Trailhead

Sheep Creek Trailhead

14.43km from San Juan National Forest

This is a stunning half-day hike in the magnificent Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory. Enjoy this 12.9-km out-and-back trail near Destruction Bay, Yukon. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 18 min to complete. This trail is great for backpacking, hiking, and trail running, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring.

Yellowjacket Pass

Yellowjacket Pass

17.07km from San Juan National Forest

Yellowjacket Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.373m above the sea level, located in Archuleta County, in southwest Colorado, USA. It is one of the scenic route and is famous among the riders.

Lake Pagosa

Lake Pagosa

21.3km from San Juan National Forest

A beautiful lake nestled against the San Juan Mountains. Enjoy hiking, fishing, or a scenic picnic. it surrounds a park featuring lakefront, wooded, and hillside terrain. Lake Pagosa is the largest of the four stocked fishing lakes in Pagosa Lakes.

Navajo State Park

Navajo State Park

21.82km from San Juan National Forest

Navajo State Park is a major recreational facility in southwest Colorado, drawing more than 300,000 visitors every year. Its area is 15,000 acres, and it has 150 miles of shoreline in two states. Park activities include boating, houseboating, fishing, camping, and wildlife viewing. There is a New Mexico state park at the southern end of the lake.

Discover More Attractions in Archuleta County, Home of San Juan National Forest

Archuleta County

Archuleta County

24 attractions

Archuleta County is a gateway to the beautiful Southwest Colorado. Pagosa Springs, the county seat and largest city of Archuleta County, sits quietly at 7,079 feet in the heart of the San Juan Mountains.It is the gateway to 2.8 million acres of wilderness and national forest areas including the San Juan National Forest, Weminuche Wilderness Area and the South San Juan Wilderness Area.

Location of San Juan National Forest

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For more information about San Juan National Forest, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_National_Forest