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San Juan National Forest -Four Wheel Driving

Off highway vehicle use is popular in the San Juan National Forest but because of snow and excessive moisture on the high mountain roads a good part of the year, most of the off-highway vehicle use is restricted to mid-June through October. Check with the District Ranger's offices in Bayfield and Mancos, or the Supervisor's Office in Durango, for up-to-date information. The San Juan recreation and travel map is also available, showing various off-highway vehicle restrictions. Please observe these restrictions and stay on designated roadways so that others may enjoy the forests and mountains.

La Plata Canyon to Kennebec Pass
Last 5 miles require four-wheel drive.

Bedrock Creek Road
Leave La Plata Canyon Road just before Bedrock Creek. Good view of La Plata's up close . Four wheel drive recommended

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Leave U.S. 550 at Purgatory Ski Area entrance, drive into scenic Hermosa Park. Passable with regular vehicles. Provides access to Bolam Pass and Scotch Creek Roads.

Bolam Pass
Travel from Purgatory area to Highway 145 via the Hermosa Park Road. Four-wheel drive advised on upper portion.

Tuckerville
Travel on the Middle Mountain Road to the old community of Tuckerville. four-wheel drive required for last two miles.

Lime Creek Road
The old highway from Durango to Silverton. Generally passable with regular vehicles. No trailers allowed.

Missionary Ridge Road
Numerous opportunities for exploring this scenic area. Generally passable to regular vehicles. Some four-wheel drive opportunities.
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  Junction Creek-Good Hope Road
Close to Durango. Generally passable with regular vehicles. Some side road four-wheel drive opportunities.

Miller Mountain
Above Lemon Reservoir. Generally passable with regular vehicles.

Cunningham Gulch
Scenic area with old mines. Lower portion generally passable with regular vehicles; upper portion - four-wheel drive advised.

Silverton to Animas Forks
Scenic area with old mines. Lower portion passable with regular vehicles; upper portion - four-wheel drive advised.

Minnie Gulch
Four-wheel drive required.

Maggie Gulch
Four-wheel drive required.

Engineer Pass
Spectacular views. Four-wheel drive required. Open late summer to early fall.

Cinnamon Pass
Spectacular views. Four-wheel drive required. Open late summer to early fall.

Ophir Pass
Breath-taking trip to Ophir and Telluride area from U.S. 550 near Silverton. Four-wheel drive required. Open late summer to early fall.

South Mineral Road
West of Silverton, leads to South Mineral Campground. Passable to regular vehicles. Four-wheel drive opportunities also available beyond the campground.

Scotch Creek Road
Travel from Hermosa Park area to Highway 145. Four-wheel drive advised.

Brown's Gulch to Red Mountain Pass
Four-wheel drive required. views from above timberline and evidence of old mining activity. Spectacular views from above timberline and evidence of old mining activity.