You'll need to cross the Conejos River and its tributaries several times so you'll need a good pair of sandals. There are 9 moderate trails in South San Juan Wilderness ranging from 3.8 to 10.2 miles and from 7,936 to 12,165 feet above sea level. Hiking Colorado’s Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas: A Guide to the Area’s Greatest Hiking Adventures $ 24.95 Colorado Trail Guidebook, 9th Edition It was a beautiful morning and every hiker in town was eager to get back on the trail. Hiking Blowdown Off trail We started at Opal Lake and hiked up to 11,000 feet, as a day hike from the lake. By combining three or more of these trails with the CDT, you can make an excellent backpacking loop 20 to 30 miles long. It gets a bit of wear so in many areas it is a braided trail. This rugged trail map was designed for on-trail use in the toughest outdoor conditions in a compact and easy-to-fold size—no more fumbling with huge, inaccurate maps. Resources to Help you Plan your Adventure Contact the District Ranger Offices for recommendations on what hikes are best for you. The San Juan National Forest covers 1.8 million acres in the southwestern corner of Colorado. Activities in the park include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and skiing. This map can guide you off the beaten path and back again with mapped trails, color-coded according to their designated usage, including the Continental Divide Trail. Hiking and Horseback Trails ATV Trails and UTV Trails Bike Trails. Continental Divide Trail through the South San Juans August 2008 | South San Juan Mountains, Colorado This last week I hiked the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) through the South San Juan Wilderness with two of my friends. As a part of this forest there are two wilderness areas. The trail is at the south end of the parking lot just behind the registration sign (SJ-14, N37.302112 W106.60540 ). Park near the campground or drive up rough road to the trail head. The trail is tough to follow at the peak area around the meadow so a map is required to cross this section. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Alberta Peak: Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. What a day. Maps:South San Juan/Del Norte, #142 ($9.95, Trails Illustrated, 800-962-1643). A hike in the heart of the S. San Juan wilderness, Blue Lake is located at 11,465 ft, just a few feet from the Continental Divide Trail. Plot your own adventure with this Colorado South San Juan Wilderness topographic hiking map, covering all the hiking trails in this wilderness area in the southern portion of the San Juan Mountains. Popular highlights within the park include the San Juan Skyway, a scenic drive with excellent views, and numerous hiking trails including Ice Lake Basin Trail. The South San Juan Wilderness is located in the San Juan National Forest, east of Pagosa Springs, in southern Colorado. San Juan National Forest was declared by president Theodore Roosevelt in 1905 and is now also part of the Chimney Rock National Monument. By Hiking Colorado’s Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas features fifty-seven of southwestern Colorado’s finest trails–from short day trips to extended backpacking treks.With this comprehensive guide, veteran local hiker Donna Ikenberry provides all the information you need to get the most out of hiking the stunning San Juan Mountains. Taking other people's content (text, photos, etc) without permission is a copyright violation and The only facility is a vault toilet. NOT OKAY! The South San Juan Wilderness is located in the San Juan Mountains and was designated wilderness in December 1980. Directions. Information on flora and fauna in the area can be found in: Kershaw, Linda J., Andy MacKinnon, and Jim Pojar, Plants of the Rocky Mountains. The South San Juan wilderness is the site where the last known grizzly bear in Colorado was killed in 1979. Description. Hiking and Horseback Trails ATV Trails and UTV Trails Bike Trails. Being a jerk / offensive? Add Your Photos. The trail begins by entering the Weminuche Wilderness Area at timberline (about 11,500 feet) and climbs 1,500 feet to Overlook Point (12,998 feet) with 360 degree views of the San Juan Mountains, mesas to the south, the La Plata Mountains to the west, and the peaks of the Weminuche Wilderness to the north and east. It’s a 60+ mile trek from Cumbres Pass near Chama, New Mexico to Wolf Creek Pass near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. This is a a fun hike to San Juan Hot Springs, which is located in Caspers Wilderness Park, a lightly-visited, 8,000 acre, protected wilderness preserve in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. 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