Before you make your plans to visit the San Juan National Forest, you should visit the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) office in Durango; it is off US-160 on a short road, Tech Center Drive, just west of the intersection of US-160 and US-550 past the Residence Inn. The actual address is 15 Burnett Ct, Durango, CO 81301; phone (970)... More

First time we were here during the snow melt. Great to learn how landowners utilize the runoff. At some point we were above the snowline. Sun was shining, valley's were green, traffic was light and we had a wonderful time.

My family and I are the type of travelers that would rather be out in nature than in town shopping and we decided after our (GREAT) train ride to Cascade Canyon that we would make the drive to Silverton. Hwy 550 takes you straight into San Juan National Forest and quickly turns into a two lane twisting mountain road with... More

When we moved to Durango, we took rides around town just to explore. It was amazing because we would drive and suddenly be in the middle of a lush forest. The transition was seamless and the surrounding areas are gorgeous.

I took two snow shoe tours at roughly 10,600 feet. Both times I was in HEAVEN! On the first day it was sunny with a hard crust, but 3 days later it was quiet and very snowy. Either day, it was WONDERFUL!

I think this review is probably superfluous, but come on! Get out there and explore! This area is awesome. Tons of trails and glorious views. Pack intelligently, bring water and food, people! Can't say how many unprepared hikers we've passed. This is a beautiful area, but as with anything in nature, take it seriously and be ready for anything!

Be careful, be aware of Altitude Sickness. It is dangerous and serious. You can not do anything other that wait and become acclimated to the altitude or go to a lower elevation. You will get dizzy and feel like your heart is going to pump right out of your chest. Very scary. I still had to drive over the Continental... More

The scenery was pretty and the 2 lane road was decent to drive on.We drove thru the San Juan Mountains stopping long enough to take pictures.

Regardless, the San Juan forest is stunning, enormous, and relatively empty. No shortage of outdoor activities, although if you're looking to bag 14'ers, your choice is more limited than other national forests in CO. Still, southwest CO is the greatest place on earth.