South San Juan Wilderness

Located in the San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests in Colorado.

The South San Juan Wilderness covers over 127,000 acres of spectacular mountainous terrain on the San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests. The wilderness straddles the Continental Divide south of the famed Wolf Creek Pass, offering high tundra, sweeping vistas, and solitude to the visitor.

Elevations within the wilderness range from 8,000 feet to over 13,000. Engelmann spruce and aspen forests cover nearly half of the area, with the rest made up of open grasslands, alpine tundra, and rocky or barren areas.

Recreation use is light in the South San Juan, compared to the Weminuche. Big game hunting, hiking, horseback riding, camping, viewing the scenery, and cross-country skiing are popular among those who do use the area. Wildlife that may be observed by visitors or hunted in season include elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, turkey, and black bear.

For more information contact: The San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests.