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Welcome to the San Juan National Forest

The San Juan National Forest encompasses about 1.8 million acres in the southwestern corner of Colorado. Terrain ranges from high-desert mesas to alpine peaks, with thousands of miles of back roads and hundreds of miles of trails to explore. These federal lands are managed for multiple uses; visitors are asked to respect each other and the natural resources.

At three quarters the size of Rhode Island, the Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juan National Forest is the largest wilderness area in Colorado at 499,771 acres. It is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, established by the Wilderness Act of 1964. The Weminuche (say weem-ee-noosh) was designated by Congress in 1975, and expanded by the Colorado Wilderness Acts of 1980 and 1993.

The Weminuche spans the Continental Divide, North America's geological backbone, with its headwaters diverted to both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Eolus, Sunlight, and Windom peaks rise above 14,000 feet (4267 meters) in the Chicago Basin area, while many others in the San Juan NF reach above 13,000 feet (3962 Meters). With an average elevation of 10,000 feet (3048 meters) above sea level, the Weminuche is rugged country.

As you visit the San Juan National Forest and the Weminuche Wilderness, help protect the wilderness through your knowledge and skills, and by complying with regulations. Please practice Leave No Trace techniques to help keep these areas wild, clean, and pristine.