South San Juan Wilderness
South San Juan Wilderness is a 160,997-acre wilderness area in Conejos County, Colorado. It rises from about 8,048 to 13,277 ft. The nearest town is Pagosa Springs, 8.6 miles away in a straight line.
South San Juan Wilderness map
South San Juan Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Agency fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
County and local burn bans may also apply on private, state, or county land nearby. On federal land, follow the land manager's order; off it, follow the strictest county or local rule that applies. When both touch your trip, obey both.
Common questions
- Pagosa Springs, CO is the nearest town, 8.6 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in South San Juan Wilderness is about 13,277 ft, and its lowest about 8,048 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Summit Peak, about 13,277 ft.
Who manages South San Juan Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 160,997 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Conejos Peak Ranger District, 719-274-8971 |
Getting to South San Juan Wilderness
- Pagosa Springs, CO is the nearest town, 8.6 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at South San Juan Wilderness
- Treasure Creek Trailhead (0.02 mi outside the boundary, 10,952 ft), at 37.3629, -106.6700
- Three Forks Trailhead (0.03 mi outside the boundary, 10,208 ft), at 37.3024, -106.6053
- Twin Lakes Trailhead (0.05 mi outside the boundary, 11,125 ft), at 37.2957, -106.5393
- Fish Creek Trailhead (0.07 mi outside the boundary, 8,975 ft), at 37.2203, -106.7242
- Bear Creek Trailhead (0.1 mi outside the boundary, 9,810 ft), at 37.2910, -106.4960
- Upper South Fork Trailhead (0.13 mi outside the boundary, 9,105 ft), at 37.2340, -106.4740
- Ruybalid Trailhead (0.2 mi outside the boundary, 8,834 ft), at 37.1871, -106.4495
- Rio De Los Pinos (0.28 mi outside the boundary, 10,446 ft), at 37.0750, -106.4940
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in South San Juan Wilderness
- Summit Peak summit
- Conejos Peak summit
- Montezuma Peak summit
- Alverjones Lake lake
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-30. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Campgrounds in and around South San Juan Wilderness
East Fork camping (1 mile outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Public lands next to South San Juan Wilderness
- National forest Most of South San Juan Wilderness lies inside Rio Grande National Forest.
- National forestSouth San Juan Wilderness borders San Juan National Forest.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in Colorado
- wilderness.net (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- apps.fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.