San Juan National Forest
Dispersed camping is generally allowed
On national forest and grassland, camping outside developed campgrounds is generally permitted unless an area is posted closed or a local order says otherwise. Stay on existing surfaces, camp away from water and trailheads, and check the forest's current orders before you go — fire restrictions change through the season.
Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page
- Area
- 3,273 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 38
- Longest rig
- 70 ft
Where the land is, and what fits
The official Forest Service boundary with every campground we hold inside it. Tell it how long your rig is and the map keeps only what takes it — public land rarely matches the shape people picture, and neither does what you can actually get into.
Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 38 campgrounds shown
- Blanco River Group Campground1 sitesMay – September · Reservations accepted
- Bridge Campground19 sitesMay – Early September · First-come, first-served
- Burro Bridge Campground4 sitesMid-May – October (limited services Sept - Oct) · First-come, first-served
- Cayton Campgroundto 70 ft · 27 sites · Electric · Pull-throughMid-May – September · Reservations accepted
- Chris Park Group CampgroundLate May – September · Reservations accepted
- Cimarrona CampgroundMay – November (limited services Sept - Nov) · First-come, first-served
- East Fork CampgroundMay – September · Reservations accepted
- East Fork Road Information StationSeason not published
- Florida CampgroundMay – September · First-come, first-served
- Graham Creek Campgroundto 60 ft · 24 sites · Pull-throughMay – September · Reservations accepted
- Haviland Lake Campgroundto 48 ft · 41 sites · Electric · Pull-throughMay – October (limited services Sept - Nov) · Reservations accepted
- House Creek Campgroundto 50 ft · 49 sites · ElectricMay – October · Reservations accepted
- Jersey Jim LookoutMid-May – Mid-October · Reservations accepted
- Junction Creek Campgroundto 65 ft · 45 sites · Electric · Pull-throughMay – September · Reservations accepted
- Kroeger Campground4 sitesMay – September · First-come, first-served
- Lower Hermosa CampgroundMay – September · First-come, first-served
- Lower Piedra Campground19 sitesMay – September · First-come, first-served
- Mavreeso Campgroundto 60 ft · 19 sites · Electric · Pull-throughMay – September · Reservations accepted
- McPhee CampgroundMay – September (limited services Sept - Nov) · Reservations accepted
- Middle Mountain Campground4 sitesMay – September · First-come, first-served
- Miller Creek Campground4 sitesMay – September · First-come, first-served
- North Canyon Campgroundto 45 ft · 21 sitesMay – September · Reservations accepted
- Palisades Horse CampgroundMid-June – November (limited services Sept - Nov) · Reservations accepted
- Pine Point CampgroundMay – September · Reservations accepted
- Pine River Campground4 sitesMay – September · First-come, first-served
- Sig Creek CampgroundMay – September · First-come, first-served
- Silver Falls Guard StationSeason not published
- Snowslide Campground4 sitesMay – September · First-come, first-served
- South Mineral Campground4 sitesMid-May – September · First-come, first-served
- Target Tree Campgroundto 60 ft · 20 sites · Pull-throughMay – September · Reservations accepted
- Teal Campground17 sitesMay – September · First-come, first-served
- Transfer Campgroundto 40 ft · 17 sites · Pull-throughMay – September (limited services Sept - Nov) · Reservations accepted
- Transfer Park Campground4 sitesMay – September (limited services Sept - Nov) · First-come, first-served
- Ute CampgroundMay – September · Reservations accepted
- Vallecito Campgroundto 50 ft · 79 sites · Electric · Pull-through · Bear boxesMay – October (limited services Sept-Oct, weather dependent)) · Reservations accepted
- West Dolores Campgroundto 65 ft · 18 sites · Electric · Pull-throughMay – September (limited services from Sept - Nov) · Reservations accepted
- West Fork Campgroundto 40 ft · 27 sites · Pull-throughMay – September · Reservations accepted
- Williams Creek Campgroundto 45 ft · 61 sites · Pull-throughMay – September · Reservations accepted
San Juan National Forest
The San Juan National Forest is a U.S. national forest covering over 1,878,846 acres in western Colorado. The forest occupies land in Archuleta, Conejos, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Rio Grande, San Miguel and San Juan Counties. It borders the Uncompahgre National Forest to the north and the Rio Grande National Forest to the east. The forest covers most of the southern portion of the San Juan Mountains west of the Continental Divide. The forest contains two alpine wilderness areas; the Weminuche and South San Juan, as well as the Piedra Area. The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad passes through the National Forest.
Extract from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA. Agency description not published.
No vehicles past these lines
Designated wilderness is closed to every wheeled vehicle, including bicycles. You can walk in and camp; you cannot drive or park a rig inside one.
- Weminuche Wilderness500,310 acres
- South San Juan Wilderness161,010 acres
- Lizard Head Wilderness41,586 acres
- Hermosa Creek Wilderness37,344 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
National parks close enough to pair
Drive to San Juan the long way
Byway plans the road in, not just the destination — real places along the way, weighted to what you like, with nothing invented.