Southwest Colorado is experiencing warm, dry weather in the low country, but many of the San Juan National Forest’s roads and trails remain muddy or snowy in the high country.
To find a specific road’s status, visit our roads conditions webpage at www.fs.usda.gov/r02/sanjuan/conditions.
Many roads are closed seasonally to protect drivers from hazardous conditions, to protect wildlife and to prevent road damage. Wet, muddy areas where snow has begun to melt are easily damaged by hikers, bikers, horses and vehicles. We ask that the public please stay off wet and muddy roads and trails, and respect gate closures.
Trails
Many high-elevation trails have begun to thaw out, which can tempt hikers, bikers and horseback riders.
Hikers and bikers often walk or ride along the edges of paths and trails on live vegetation to avoid muddy paths. This damages plants, widens and braids the trails, and leads to erosion and sedimentation in waterways.
Still want to recreate? We recommend visiting low- and mid-elevation trails, gravel roads or paved pathways that have melted out and are accessible without causing resource damage.
Roads
The Dolores and Pagosa ranger district staff have been opening roads as conditions allow, except for roads closed to protect elk and deer, which will open May 1.
The Columbine Ranger District will begin opening low-elevation roads May 1 and will follow the Motor Vehicle Use Map dates for all roads. Upper-elevation and backcountry roads will be opened June 1 or as conditions permit.
Spring conditions are variable and even dangerous, and visitors should be prepared to encounter system roads that are impassable due to snowdrifts, waterlogged roads, down trees or other debris. All travel on the forest is regulated by the Motor Vehicle Use Maps that can be found online.
For specific road information, visit our road conditions webpage or contact your local district office listed below:
• Columbine Ranger District: (970) 884-2512.
• Dolores Ranger District: (970) 882-7296.
• Pagosa Ranger District: (970) 264-2268.
Flood-damaged roads and trails
Severe flooding on Oct. 10-13, 2025, created ongoing safety and access concerns on roads, trails and in waterways on the Columbine and Pagosa ranger districts.
Some roads and vehicle bridges suffered severe damage.
Wilderness trail bridges on Vallecito Creek and West Fork trails were destroyed by flooding, and replacement is not expected to take place until at least 2027.
Visitors should visit respective trail pages for detailed information and proceed with caution as many trails have not yet been assessed post-flood.
Following the flood event, the San Juan National Forest applied for and was awarded Federal Highway Administration financial support through its Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) program.
Thanks to this funding, repair work will begin as early as spring 2026 and will continue through 2027.
ERFO was established to assist federal agencies with the repair or reconstruction of federally owned roads (among other infrastructure) that are open to public travel that have suffered serious damage by a natural disaster or a catastrophic failure.
Following is information by road or trail number:
• 033 Hatcher Road: Road is closed indefinitely due to total loss of roadbed. Complete road rebuild is planned for 2026.
• 039 Fall Creek Road: Closed indefinitely due to severe culvert washout. Reconstruction and new culverts are planned for summer 2026.
• 621 Lower Piedra Road: Closed indefinitely due to embankment collapse. The Lower Piedra Campground is also closed. Complete road rebuild is planned for 2026.
• 667 East Fork Road: Temporary closure during construction. Road retaining wall reconstruction taking place in 2026.
• 648 West Fork Road bridge: Closed indefinitely due to abutment instability. Repair of the abutment is planned during low flow in 2026.
• 529 Middle Vallecito Trail Bridge: Bridge washed away. There is no passage after mile 5.4 from the trailhead. Replacement of the structure is planned for 2027.
• 561 West Fork Trail: Inaccessible 2.9 miles from the West Fork Trailhead. Replacement is planned for summer 2027. Multiple bridges washed out.
• 671 Piedra Falls Trail: Temporary trail reroute. Heavy equipment will be working throughout summer 2026 on adjacent ditches.
For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, visit the forest website or follow on Facebook.
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