Colorado

The South San Juan Wilderness encompasses the southeastern extent of the San Juan Mountain Range, including a segment of the Continental Divide. Originally designated as wilderness by Congress in 1980, it is a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System and now maintains 158,790 acres.
Ages of volcanic activity followed by the carving of glaciers left the rough, imposing terrain of the remote South San Juan Wilderness, an area characterized by steep slopes above wide U-shaped valleys cut deeper by eroding streams. You'll find high peaks and cliffs, as well as jagged pinnacles and ragged ridges, making travel difficult. Elevations rise as high as 13,300 feet.
Thirty-two lakes, most of them formed by glacial activity, hold much of the area's moisture and drain into turbulent creeks. The Conejos, San Juan, and Blanco Rivers have their headwaters here. You'll find about 180 miles of trails, and some of the most exemplary backpacking in the state. The Continental Divide crosses the heart of the Wilderness for 42 miles.
Please always use Leave No Trace techniques to help keep these areas wild, clean, and pristine.

A mountain in the South San Juan Wilderness in southern Colorado.
Jeffrey Beall, South San Juan Wilderness, CC BY 4.0
When Open? Area Acres Operated By
Year-round; 24 hours a day 158,790 acres US Forest Service:
Conejos Peak Ranger District
Pagosa Ranger District
Dogs Allowed? Miles of Trail Max/Min Elev (ft)
Dogs allowed on leash or direct verbal control 353 8,040ft - 13,300ft
Location overview for South San Juan Wilderness Hiking Map

South San Juan Wilderness Trail and Map Finder

Area Hiking Trails:
1 - Adams Fork Trail #713
2 - Alverjones Lake Trail #727.1
3 - Alverones Lake Spur Trail
4 - Archuleta Trail #740.1 - MOTORIZED
5 - Archuleta Trail #741 - MOTORIZED
Area Hiking Trails:
1 - Adams Fork Trail #713
2 - Alverjones Lake Trail #727.1
3 - Alverones Lake Spur Trail
4 - Archuleta Trail #740.1 - MOTORIZED
5 - Archuleta Trail #741 - MOTORIZED
6 - Averjones Lake Cutoff Trail
7 - Bear Lake Cutoff Trail #721.1
8 - Bear Lake Trail #721
9 - Blanco River Trail #573
10 - Buckles Lake Trail
11 - Canon Rincon Trail #722
12 - Canon Verde Trail #726
13 - Chama River Trail #738
14 - Coal Creek Trail #581
15 - Conejos Peak Summit Trail
16 - Conejos River Trail #712
17 - Crater Lake Trail #562
18 - Crater Lake Trail #707
19 - Cut Over Trail - Primitive
20 - Dipping Lakes Cutoff Trail 733.2
21 - Duck Lake Trail #732
22 - El Rito Azul Trail #718
23 - Elk Creek Trail #731
24 - Fish Creek Trail #575
25 - Fish Lake Access Trail
26 - Fish Lake Trail #574
27 - Flat Trail #735
28 - Glacier Lake Access Trail
29 - Glacier Lake Trail #711
30 - Green Lake Spur Trail
31 - Hidden Lake Trail #734 - MOTORIZED
32 - Lake Fork Trail #716 - MOTORIZED
33 - Leche Creek Trail #576
34 - Little Blanco Trail #572
35 - Los Pinos Trail #736
36 - Middle Fork Conejos Trail #712.1
37 - Navajo Peak Trail #577
38 - No Name Lake Trail #728
39 - North Fork Cutoff Trail #714.1
40 - North Fork Trail #714
41 - Notch Trail #729
42 - Opal Lake Trail #564
43 - Quartz Creek Trail #571
44 - Quartz Lake Trail #568
45 - Quartz Ridge Trail #570
46 - Red Lake Cut-Off Trail #733.1
47 - Red Lake Trail #733
48 - Roaring Gulch Trail #720
49 - Ruybalid Trail #855
50 - Saddle Creek Trail #715
51 - Sawmill Gulch Trail #759 - MOTORIZED
52 - Silver Creek Trail #567
53 - South Fork Trail #724
54 - Spur Trail
55 - Spur Trail 2
56 - Spur Trail 3
57 - Timber Lake Trail #723
58 - Tobacco Lake Spur Trail
59 - Tobacco Lake Trail #719
60 - Treasure Creek Trail #710
61 - Treasure Falls Trail
62 - Treasure Mountain Trail #565 - MOTORIZED
63 - Unknown Trail - PRIMITIVE
64 - Unknown Trail 2 - Primitive
65 - V Rock Trail #578
66 - Valle Victoria Trail #727
67 - Victoria Lake Spur Trail
68 - Victoria Lake Trail #775
69 - West Fork Rio Chama Trail #740
70 - Windy Pass Trail #566 - MOTORIZED
Area Trailheads:
1 - Adams Fork Trail #713
2 - Bear Lake Spur Trail
3 - Bear Lake Trail
4 - Blanco River Trail #573
5 - Buckles Lake Trail
Area Trailheads:
1 - Adams Fork Trail #713
2 - Bear Lake Spur Trail
3 - Bear Lake Trail
4 - Blanco River Trail #573
5 - Buckles Lake Trail
6 - Buckles Lake Trail
7 - CDT Blue Lake to Elwood Pass (CO Sec. 2)
8 - CDT Elwood Pass to Wolf Creek Pass (CO Sec. 3)
9 - CDT New Mexico Border to Blue Lake (CO Sec. 1)
10 - Canon Rincon Trail #722
11 - Chama River Trail #738
12 - Chama River Trail #738
13 - Coal Creek Trail #581
14 - Coal Creek Trail #581
15 - Conejos River Trail #712
16 - Crater Lake Trail #707
17 - Duck Lake Trail #732
18 - Elk Creek Trail #731
19 - Fish Creek Trail #575
20 - Fish Lake Trail #574
21 - Hidden Lake Trail #734 - MOTORIZED
22 - Lake Fork Trail #716 - MOTORIZED
23 - Lake Fork Trail #716 - MOTORIZED
24 - Leche Creek Trail #576
25 - Little Blanco Trail #572
26 - Los Pinos Trail #736
27 - Navajo Peak Trail #577
28 - Navajo Peak Trail #577
29 - Notch Trail #729
30 - Opal Lake Trail #564
31 - Quartz Creek Trail #571
32 - Quartz Ridge Trail #570
33 - Quartz Ridge Trail #570
34 - Red Lake Cut-Off Trail #733.1
35 - Red Lake Trail #733
36 - Ruybalid Trail #855
37 - Saddle Creek Trail #715
38 - Sawmill Gulch Trail #759 - MOTORIZED
39 - Sawmill Gulch Trail #759 - MOTORIZED
40 - Silver Creek Trail #567
41 - South Fork Trail #724
42 - Tobacco Lake Trail #719
43 - Treasure Creek Trail #710
44 - Treasure Falls Trail
45 - Treasure Falls Trail
46 - Treasure Mountain Trail #565
47 - V Rock Trail #578
48 - West Fork Rio Chama Trail #740
49 - Windy Pass Trail #566
Area Campgrounds:
1 - Aspen Glade Campground
2 - Blanco River Group Campground
3 - Conejos Campground
4 - East Fork Campground
5 - Elk Creek Campground
Area Campgrounds:
1 - Aspen Glade Campground
2 - Blanco River Group Campground
3 - Conejos Campground
4 - East Fork Campground
5 - Elk Creek Campground
6 - Elk Creek Overflow Campground
7 - Lake Fork Campground
8 - Mix Lake Campground
9 - Mogote Campground
10 - Spectacle Lake Campground
11 - Stunner Campground
12 - Trujillo Meadows Campground
13 - Tucker Ponds Campground
14 - West Fork Campground