20 Attractions to Explore Near San Isabel National Forest

The Salida Ranger District is part of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands. it manages more than 440,000 acres in central Colorado. It's an outdoor recreation paradise with seven 14,000-foot peaks "fourteeners", three wilderness areas, and Browns Canyon National Monument.

Poncha Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado, located on the continental divide in the Sawatch Range, within the San Isabel National Forest. The pass is an important section of U.S. Highway 50 and is traversed by the Rio Grande Railroad. It is one of the few transcontinental railroad passes in North America not currently served by Amtrak. The highest point on Poncha Pass is 12,095 feet, making it one of the highest mountain passes in Colorado.

This is one of the nation’s most popular locations for whitewater rafting and kayaking and home to the most commercially rafted river in the United States. It extends about 148 miles from Leadville to the Pueblo Reservoir through the towns of Buena Vista, Salida, Caсon City, and Florence. The spectacular scenery is highlighted by the steep, narrow, rocky canyons that provide excellent opportunities to view Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

O'Haver Lake is a reservoir in Chaffee County, Colorado in the San Isabel National Forest. It is located about two miles from U.S. Highway 50 west of Poncha Pass. The lake and adjacent campground are just off Forest Road 200, also known as Marshall Pass Road. The pass is about twelve miles up the road from the lake.

This is a 7-mile trail to the Continental Divide or 6 miles to the Green’s Creek Crossing. The lower section of the trail is smooth and winds through tight aspen trees. The upper section is steep, wet, and rocky. The trail is used by hikers, horseback riders, bikers and motorized dirt bikes.

Mount Ouray is a mountain peak in Saguache County. With an elevation of 12,943 feet, it is the county's highest point. The mountain is located in the San Juan Mountains, a range of the Rocky Mountains. Mount Ouray is named for Chief Ouray of the Ute tribe, who lived in the area. The mountain has been a popular destination for hikers and climbers since the late 19th century. A trail to the summit was built in 1887, making it one of the first mountains in Colorado to be accessible by trail.

Cottonwood Peak is a mountain in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, located in the Iverson Creek area. It is a volcanic feature of the Northern Cordilleran Volcanic Province that formed in the past 1.6 million years during the Pleistocene Epoch.

Antora Peak is a summit in the San Juan Mountains of Saguache County, Colorado. The peak is located in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area of the Arapaho National Forest. The peak is named for Antora Breedlove, one of the first settlers in the area. The peak rises to an elevation of 12,941 feet and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. There are several hiking trails that lead to the summit, and the peak is popular with climbers and mountaineers.

Marshall Pass is a high mountain pass that has been used for centuries by Native Americans and early settlers. The pass was named for James Marshall, who discovered gold in California in 1848. In the late 1800s, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad built a line through the pass, and it became an important route for trade and travel. Today, Marshall Pass is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and cross-country skiing. The scenic route offers stunning views of the valley below.

The Brush Creek Lakes are two of the largest lakes in the Sangre de Cristo Range, and the fishing can be good.The lakes are situated right on the edge of timberline in a picturesque alpine cirque just east of Thirsty Peak and Lakes Peak.

The Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands covers nearly three million acres from western Kansas and Colorado's highest mountain peaks along the Continental Divide. This landscape offers a variety of ecosystems rich in history, geology, scenery, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities.

Mount Shavano is a high mountain summit in the southern Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. It is famous for the Angel of Shavano, a snow formation in the image of an angel that emerges on the east face of the mountain during snow melt each spring. A good trekking destination and also it offers breathtaking views of this area.

Monarch Pass is one of the most breathtaking and fun to visit high elevation mountain passes in Colorado. The pass carries U.S. Highway 50 over the Sawatch Range, providing a route between Tomichi Creek in the upper basin of the Gunnison River on the west and the South Arkansas River, a tributary of the Arkansas River, on the east. The pass is widely considered one of the most scenic in Colorado, offering a panoramic view of the southern end of the Sawatch Range from the summit.

Monarch Mountain is one of the oldest Colorado ski areas, which opened in 1939. It’s located in the central Rocky Mountains near Salida and receives over 350 inches of snow each year. The resort is situated on Monarch Pass at the continental divide. It has 54 trails, two terrain parks, and an extreme terrain area called Mirkwood. The Monarch Mountain Lodge is located three miles (5 km) east of the ski area in the town of Garfield, Colorado.

Tabeguache Peak is the 26th highest peak in Colorado. It is one of the lesser known of the Colorado 14ers. It is a near neighbor of the higher peak Mount Shavano, which lies approximately 1/2 mile to the southeast, and is close to being a subpeak of the latter. Tabeguache Peak is often climbed in conjunction with Mount Shavano. Previously, Tabeguache seemed a more significant mountain because the bulk of this route to both peaks took place on its slopes.

Hunt Lake Trail is a short hike below the Continental Divide north of the summit of Monarch Pass and east of Salida, Colorado. The trail is fairly steep in places and moves over rocky, rough terrain. Hiking poles are a good idea to provide yourself with extra stability. Ensure that you have proper footwear that offer good stability for this rough granite trail with has lots of ups and downs.

The lake is situated in a valley between two ridges in the Porcupine Mountains. Surrounded by virgin wilderness and stunning vistas, the lake is a popular destination for hikers, campers, and fishermen. The lake is a prominent feature of the park, and can be viewed at the Lake of the Clouds Overlook at the west terminus of the former Michigan highway. The state park occasionally hosts a nighttime sky watch at the lake.

A beautiful 21,586 acres national monument in Chaffee County, which is centered along the Arkansas River between Buena Vista and Salida. It is the most popular destination for whitewater rafting in the country, and is also known for its fishing and hiking. It is also protected habitat for bighorn sheep, peregrine falcons, elk, and golden eagles.

Mount Antero is the highest Colorado mountain named after a native American Indian. It is primarily known to have the highest gem field and high concentrations of aquamarine within the conterminous United States. There are several active private mining claims being exploited on Mount Antero and surrounding peaks. There are two popular climbing routes on Mount Antero.

Spread Eagle Peak is ranked the 306th highest peak in Colorado and towers over the beautiful Lakes of the Clouds basin. The peak dominates the western skyline while approaching the Gibson Creek trailhead from Westcliffe. It's close proximity to the Wet Mountain Valley makes it a nice dayhike with less crowds or a great winter climb.