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San Juan National Forest - US Forest Service - Pagosa Springs, Colorado - (970) 264-2268

The San Juan National Forest is located in southwestern Colorado on the western slope of the Continental Divide. It covers an area from east to west of over 120 miles and from north to south of over 60 miles encompassing 2,086,484 acres of land.

Alpine meadows and high spruce stands are interspersed with large areas of sharp, bold, granite extrusions, rock slides and barren areas. Much of the area is above timberline with characteristic shallow soils. The average elevation is over 10,000 feet and ranges from 8,000 to over 14,000 feet. Snowfall at the higher elevations is very heavy from October until April. At higher elevations in July, some snow banks can be expected to be encountered. However almost all trails will be open for both horse and foot travel by the first of July. Precipitation varies from 27 to 45 inches and temperatures range from highs of 80 degrees Fahrenheit to lows of minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit and lower.

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Freezing nights can occur anytime during the summer in the higher zones, and daytime temperatures are cool at the mid and high elevations with frequent afternoon thundershowers. Alpine lakes, canyons, cataracts, waterfalls, unusual geologic formations, historic mines, and broad variations in elevation characterize this area. Archeological ruins of the Anasazi are preserved at Chimney Rock. The Narrow Gauge Railroad, from Durango to Silverton through the Animas River Canyon, provides an opportunity to view spectacular portions of the Needle Mountains during the summer months. U.S. Highway 550 crosses the Molas Divide between Durango and Silverton, and the Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray. Remains of the mining days are evident with the outstanding alpine scenery. Wolf Creek Pass on U.S. Highway 160 and Lizard Head Pass on Highway 145 also provide beautiful vistas of the National Forest. The Navajo Trail, U.S. Highway 160, traversing the Forest from east to west is the shortest route from Los Angeles to Chicago. Along this scenic route are the towns of Cortez, Mancos, Durango, Bayfield, and Pagosa Springs. Dolores, Dove Creek, Rico, and Silverton are other towns within or adjacent to the Forest.

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  The San Juan Skyway wanders 236 miles on a journey from towering mountains and alpine forests to the rolling vistas and ancient ruins of Indian country. Other scenic drives in the Pagosa area offer spectacular vistas. The San Juan National Forest manages all or parts of three Wilderness Areas. The Needle Mountains, a paradise for mountain climbers and one of the roughest ranges in the United States, lie within the Weminuche Wilderness. Three of these peaks rise to over 14,000 feet above sea level. Three more peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation are within the Lizard Head Wilderness. The South San Juan Wilderness straddles the Continental Divide south of Wolf Creek Pass and offers high tundra, sweeping vistas and solitude for the visitor. These areas are accessible only by trail for foot or horseback use. History Prehistoric hunters and gatherers arrived in the San Juans near the end of the last ice age, roughly 8,000 years ago. The Ancestral Puebloan people appeared in the Four Corners about 2,000 years ago. They built elaborate pueblo villages and cliff dwellings in the lower elevations and traded with surrounding nomadic tribes, some of whom moved into the area after the Ancestral Puebloans disappeared about 700 years ago. The first Europeans arrived in a Spanish expedition led by Vasquez Coronado in 1541. The Spanish explored, prospected, traded with the Indians, and gave enduring names to many landmarks. Fur trappers and traders followed the explorers into the mountains. Indian reservations were established in the mid-1800s. Mining activity began to boom by the 1870s. Major settlement followed an 1873 treaty with the Ute Indians. Ranching, farming, and lumbering developed to support the mining industry. When mining later declined, these became the major economic base. Today recreation and tourism play a major role in the area's economy, and oil and gas production is on the increase. The San Juan National Forest was created by presidential proclamation June 3, 1905. Most of its present boundaries were established in 1947. The Forest includes about 1.9 million acres in nine Colorado counties. Wildlife Big game animals are abundant with sightings of mule deer, elk, and black bear being common. Sheep Mountain and Cimmarona Peak areas provide winter range for bighorn sheep. Cougar are also reported. Smaller animals and birds such as snowshoe hare, pika, badger, marmot, marten, porcupine, squirrels, blue grouse, ptarmigan and golden eagle may be observed. Hunters stalk mule deer, the majestic elk, bear, bighorn sheep, mountain lion, grouse, turkey and ducks. Recreation and wildlife both complement good watershed management and water production. This area annually produces an average yield of more than 485,000 acre- feet of water. Domestic sheep are permitted to graze where surveys indicate that grazing is compatible with existing resources. Wild animals are the true residents of the San Juan National Forest. They thrive in its diverse terrain and vegetation. A visitor is likely to see many of the Forest residents: squirrels and chipmunks in the campgrounds, an occasional furry marmot scurrying along a back road, or deer and elk feeding in a meadow. You might also encounter a skunk or porcupine. Backcountry visitors in rarely traveled areas may catch a glimpse of bighorn sheep, mountain goats, black bear, beaver, river otters, or even mountain lions. For recorded information on Colorado's wildlife, call (303) 291-7518. Nearly 300 species of birds have been identified in southwestern Colorado. More than 100 are considered common. The bald eagle and peregrine falcon are federal endangered species found here. Common campground visitors include ravens, flickers, gray jays, mountain bluebirds, and hummingbirds. Owls often pierce the evening's quiet with their eerie hoots. Golden eagles are year-round Forest residents. Bald eagles can be seen near the larger streams during the winter. With a pair of binoculars and a good "bird book," you can easily identify many birds in the Forest. (A bird list, compiled by the Durango Bird Club, is available on request from Forest Service offices.) You might flush a grouse or wild turkey from its hiding place in the underbrush. Or you might discover a dipper bobbing up and down on a rock near a stream, or taking an underwater walk. Listen for woodpeckers in search of insects in the bark of trees. Look for the great blue heron walking slowly through marshy areas and shallows. As commercial and residential development increases, wildlife habitat in the Forest becomes even more valuable. The Forest Service cooperates with the Colorado Division of Wildlife in managing wildlife and habitat. Most big-game hunting seasons occur in the fall. Details and license applications are available at Forest Service and Division of Wildlife of fices and area sporting goods stores. Call the Division of Wildlife at (303) 291-7529 for recorded information. Hiking and Backpacking About 500 miles of trails provide basic access to and through the area yet large primeval areas remain untapped by trails. The Continental Divide Trail runs from Wolf Creek Pass to the Silverton area. All mechanized means of transportation, including mountain bikes, are excluded from wilderness areas. Many of the trails through the area have been used since the early days. The Window near Rio Grande Pyramid is a famous landmark mentioned often in diaries and reports of early travelers and explorers. The Pine River Trail route over Weminuche Pass was a main route over the Continental Divide used by the Weminuche Indians (Utes). Any number of trips and variations are possible within the Weminuche Wilderness. Many take the narrow gauge train from Durango to Needleton, and then hike about five miles up Needle Creek to Chicago Basin, a truly spectacular area of rugged peaks including those over 14,000 feet. Another popular trip is to follow the Los Pinos River Trail from Vallecito Reservoir to scenic Emerald Lake. Pack trips by horseback are available at many resorts and dude ranches scattered throughout the Forest. Arrangements for horseback trips or packing in your supplies and equipment can be made through local outfitters, or by inquiry through the Durango, Cortez, Valleczto, or Pagosa springs Chambers of Commerce. Camping Numerous campgrounds and picnic sites are scattered through the Forest. One of the best campgrounds is Transfer Park, set back in a pristine aspen grove. Camping is permitted in most of the National Forest. Some area may have limitations on length-of-stay, open fires, and other activities. Downhill skiing opportunities are available in the winter at Wolf Creek pass near Pagosa Springs and Purgatory Ski area between Silverton and Durango. The Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Indian Reservations, as well as Mesa Verde National Park with its well known cliff dwellings, are located near the southern Forest boundry. Mountain Biking The Durango area is known internationally as a center of mountain biking. The numerous trails on the Forest, as well as four-wheel-drive and abandoned mining roads, offer scenic and challenging riding for all levels of interest and ability. Many easy routes are popular for family outings. Few trails are closed to mountain bikes. They are prohibited, however, in all Wilderness Areas. The La Plata Mountains, located west of Durango, are the home of a variety of little-known trails that will prove to be priceless treasures for dedicated mountain bikers; including the Jersey Jim Loop, North Fork and Chicken Creek Road Loop.Riders are expected to observe commonsense rules of courtesy to other trail users and respect for the environment. For detailed information on mountain-bike and road-bike rides in and near the San Juan National Forest, a Guide to Bicycle Routes on Public Lands of Southwest Colorado is available from Forest offices and local bike shops for $5.50. Also for sale for $6.00 is a Trails Illustrated map, Durango Area Southwest Colorado Mountain Bike Routes. Fishing for trout in high mountain lakes, swift streams, or reservoirs such as McPhee Reservoir, Vallecito, Lemon and Williams Creek Lake offer the angler many challenges. High quality trout fishing is to be found in lakes such as Emerald, Flint, Rock, Hossick, and Fourmile. Special regulations are posted at Emerald Lake, to protect the high quality, self- reproducing rainbow-cutthroat hybrids found there. The Pine River and Vallecito, Hossick and Weminuche Creeks also provide the angler with hours of pleasure. Rainbow, brook and cutthroat or native trout supplement the rations of the wilderness traveler. Vallecito Reservoir is popular for fishing, boating, and water skiing. Boat rentals, supplies and lodging are available at many commercial resorts on this beautiful lake. Five campgrounds on the lakeshore provide over 100 family camping units.