National Geographic Map: Durango … I left from the Beartown trailhead, hiked south along the Continental Divide Trail for a couple days until reaching the area of Flint Lakes and Rock Lake. Note: The CDT (813) branches off to the east at Twin Lakes. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. You've chosen well! It begins at the South Fork Trailhead on FR 250, follows the South Fork, Canon Rincon and Roaring Gulch Trails. 3.1 miles to where the trail intersects the CDT (655) at Nebo Creek, closing the loop. 4. TBL005 The divide crosses the heart of the South San Juan Wilderness for 42 miles. True, the landscape here, one broken volcanic peaks and cliffs, poses a formidable barrier to travel, but the overriding reason for this reputation resides in the probable presence of one critter - the ("griz"). South San Juan. A sobering uneasiness about your place in the local food chain notwithstanding, you can trek an incredible 26-mile circle route by stitching together five trails within this 158,790-acre wilderness. As such, this consistently remains the most current and accurate wilderness dataset available online. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Blog. The Lake … Red Lake Trail is a 6.1 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Chromo, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Courtesy of Jack Brauer. I left from the Beartown trailhead, hiked south along the Continental Divide Trail for a couple days until reaching the area of Flint Lakes and Rock Lake. Turkey Lake (Weminuche Wilderness) Rating: Difficult. A site at the mouth of Montezuma Creek on the San Juan River was selected, but a viable route was still uncertain. Motor Vehicle Use Map: Pagosa Ranger District $ 0.00. It includes all that are larger than 50,000 acres (200 km²). Bear north on the Vallecito trail (529) for appx. A 4 day backpacking adventure into Colorado's South San Juan Wilderness. The last known grizzly bear in Colorado was killed in the wilderness in 1979. Nestled deep in the South San Juan Wilderness near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Fish Lake is a beautiful, deep glacier tarn located just below the Continental Divide in the headwaters of the Blanco River. The San Juan Mountains are roughly the size of the Swiss Alps, including the spectacular 499,771 acre Weminuche Wilderness- Colorado's largest designated wilderness area. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. It is something you do and the inevitability of it sweeps you along. 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. Courthouse Mountain is an exceptionally striking peak south of Owl Creek Pass in the Cimarron Mountains sub-range of the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Planning a backpacking trip to the Durango area this summer? It borders the Uncompahgre National Forest to the north and the Rio Grande National Forest to the east. Make sure to follow the CDT (813) east, up the Nebo Creek drainage. Once you exit the Nebo Creek drainage, continue on the CDT (813) for approximately 7 miles to Twin Lakes. BLM Maps: 12 Colorado Southwest regions $ 8.00. *NOTE* The trail from Hunchback Pass TH to Rock Lake is consistently above 11,500 feet. Gallery. Updates. Old Spanish National Historic Trail through southwestern Colorado The last known grizzly bear in Colorado was killed in the wilderness in 1979. from Bernard Wolf. San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act. Lake Fork The Lake Fork of the Conejos is Wild Trout water from its headwaters through and including Big Lake and Rock Lake. The San Juan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest covering over 1,878,846 acres (2,935.7 sq mi, or 7,603.42 km²) in western Colorado.The forest occupies land in Archuleta, Conejos, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Rio Grande, San Miguel and San Juan Counties. Conejos Peak Loop, South San Juan Wilderness, CO. Explore. There is road access there, but to get as close as possible to the headwaters you are looking at some hiking through the South San Juan Wilderness. July 2010 | San Juan Mountains, Colorado After another fun 4th of July in Ouray, I went on a 5-day backpacking loop in the Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. No need to register, buy now! View of valley from Wolf Creek Pass in the San Juan Mountains of south central Colorado USA. Photos; Directions; Print/PDF Map; Share; More; Green Lake to Blue Lake Loop off 250 is a 35.6 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Capulin, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Find the perfect weminuche wilderness stock photo. Wilderness Connect maintains and updates wilderness boundary data annually using official national agency wilderness GIS sources and acreage data from agency Realty Offices. Wilderness Connect maintains and updates wilderness boundary data annually using official national agency wilderness GIS sources and acreage data from agency Realty Offices. A short-cut, thought to be simpler, was chosen with a rendezvous at Forty-Mile Spring, south of the town of Escalante. You can find the trails along USFS Road 250. Conejos Peak Loop, South San Juan Wilderness, CO. Turkey Lake (Weminuche Wilderness) Rating: Difficult. Lake Fork The Lake Fork of the Conejos is Wild Trout water from its headwaters through and including Big Lake and Rock Lake. Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! Green Lake to Blue Lake Loop off 250. hard (3) South San Juan Wilderness. Drive FS 506 passing the Beartown site (you may encounter a spot or two of 4WD here) eventually arriving at Kite Lake and the road's end. The trailhead for Crater Lake is a fair distance off any major highway - roughly 18 miles off of US Highway 160 - in close proximity to relatively unknown Elwood Pass (Forest Road 380). National Geographic Map: Pagosa Springs Bayfield Map $ 14.95. If the expedition chose either route used by the scouts, it would mean a trip of nearly 500 miles (800 km). Wilderness Areas: San Juan National Forest encompasses 4 Wilderness areas which make the perfect backpacking experience. Photo: Jason Hatfield. Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site near La Junta; Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site near Chivington; National Historic Trails. This is a list of the largest wilderness areas in the National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States. A view of Twin Lakes. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Originally designated as wilderness by Congress in 1980, it is a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System and now maintains 158,790 acres. Some believe that it is still home to a few grizzlies, but there is … Of the rest of the land, much of it wave-drenched, 83 pieces are included in the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary for gulls, cormorants, guillemots, puffins, brants, oystercatchers, auklets, bald eagles, and harbor seals. Gain: 3,380 ft (1 way), 4,860 ft (round trip) Lake: 11,150 feet. Looking across the Continental Divide in the Weminuche Wilderness. You can drive to 10,856 feet above Wolf Creek Pass and walk a short distance into the wilderness high on the Continental Divide. Many call the South San Juan Wilderness Colorado's wildest corner. The four National Historic Trails that pass through the state of Colorado are: . The doubletrack ends at this open hilltop, a perfect resting spot. The forest covers most of the southern portion of the San Juan Mountains west of the Continental Divide. National Geographic Map: Weminuche Wilderness Map #140 $ 14.95. Our StoryTeamBlogPartnersCommunity SupportEventsContactLocationHours, ApparelShoesCampingBackpackingClimbingSkiingSki BootsSki RentalsBoot-FittingOn SaleShop, CAICDurango NordicFriends of the San JuansGreat Old BroadsKnow the Snow FundMountain Studies InstituteSan Juan Citizens AllianceTrails 2000Vallecito Nordic Club, Pine Needle Mountaineering, 835 Main Avenue, Durango, CO, 81301, United States, Backpacking: Rock Lake Loop | by Stephen Eginoire. The tarn possesses a unique teal hue and is home to some good-sized native cutthroat, which can be easily seen feeding in the shallow, log-choked outlet. Walking distance from the car park is the Hunchback Pass trailhead. The forest contains two alpine wilderness areas; the Weminuche and South San Juan, as well as the Piedra Area. Home. My father-in-law Dave, and I planned to hike this 18.5 mile loop very casually over 3 days from September 9 - 11, 2013. The tour detailed below is a true San Juan wilderness experience. The United States Congress designated the South San Juan Wilderness (map) in 1980 and it now has a total of 160,998 acres. South San Juan. The most iconic and spectacular landscapes in the San Juan Mountains deserve protection. You've chosen well! Looking into the headwaters of Rock Creek, above Twin Lakes. Looking across the Continental Divide in the Weminuche Wilderness. 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