Uncompahgre National Forest

The Uncompahgre National Forest includes the Uncompahgre Plateau, the San Juan Mountains, and three Wilderness Areas. The Uncompahgre Plateau rises to 10,000 feet and all that rainwater and snowmelt draining down has cut gorges and canyons along the sides of the plateau. Two of these drainages are managed as Wilderness, with no mechanized use: they are the Roubideau and Tabeguache drainages. Escalante Canyon and Dominguez Canyon are also popular areas located on BLM land on the east side of the Uncompahgre Plateau. The Unaweep/Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway follows the Dolores River Canyon on the west side of the Uncompahgre Plateau. The byway follows Colorado State Highways 141 & 145 from Whitewater to Placerville.

The San Juan Mountain Range has four peaks over 14,000 feet and another 100 peaks over 13,000 feet in elevation, and includes the Uncompahgre (formerly Big Blue), Mount Sneffels, and Lizard Head Wilderness Areas. These areas offer wonderful places for backcountry enthusiasts to get away and enjoy a wilderness adventure. Lizard Head Wilderness offers a prime hiking experience. Elk graze the Wilson Meadows and pikas and marmots live in the slide rock areas. Above timberline hiking can be found on the Wetterhorn Basin Trail in the Uncompahgre Wilderness. For additional information on Wilderness trails contact the Montrose (for all three areas) or Norwood (for Mount Sneffels and Lizard Head Wilderness Areas) Forest Service offices.

Ouray, known as the Switzerland of America, offers access to many 4-wheel drive opportunities on primitive mining roads in the area. The 4.2 mile Bear Creek National Recreation Trail traverses along steep narrow rocky ledges south of Ouray. Amphitheater Campground is one mile south of Ouray. Telluride offers world-class skiing during the winter months.

The San Juan Skyway, Colorado's first designated scenic byway, winds for 232 miles through the Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests offering views of spectacular, rugged, and primitive country as well as cultural and historical sites. The entire loop takes you through Ouray, Silverton, Durango, Cortez and Telluride. An interpretive site and accessible toilets are available on Hwy. 145 at the top of Lizard Head Pass.

The Owl Creek Pass Road is another scenic loop from Montrose on Highway 50 to the Cimarron Road to Silver Jack Reservoir, over Owl Creek Pass and west to Ridgeway The drive offers spectacular views of Courthouse Mountain and Chimney Rock. This area gives access to trailheads into the Uncompahgre Wilderness and areas for dispersed camping. Most of the drive is on a gravel road.

Forest Service maps and information are available from the Forest Service offices. Maps, books and postcards are sold by the Western Colorado Interpretive Association at the Montrose and Delta Forest Service offices, as well as at the Telluride Visitor Center.

Volunteer Forest Service guides are leading tours from the Telluride Visitor Center during the summer and fall. Call (970) 728-3041 for information and reservations.

Ridgeway State Park and Reservoir offers fishing, boating, and camping. Contact the Park at 28555 Highway 550, Ridgeway, CO 81432, (970) 626-5822.