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San Juan National Forest
Colorado

The San Juan National Forest is a natural and cultural oasis that nourishes the hiker, historian, fisherman, anthropologist, kayaker, mountain biker, and skier alike. The diverse terrain, which features alpine lakes, cataracts, canyons, and waterfalls, is suitable for casual hiking yet also offers serious mountain climbers the challenge of several 14,000-foot peaks in the Needle Mountains—one of the roughest ranges in the United States. With much of the area above timberline, alpine meadows, and high spruce stands are interspersed with large areas of sharp/bold/granite extrusions, rock slides, and barren areas.

hillside

Long before Spanish soldiers and missionaries began exploring the San Juan, the region was inhabited by an ancient Indian civilization—abandoned archaeological ruins can be seen scattered throughout the forest.


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[from Outside magazine]