Outdoors enthusiasts hoping to hang up their skis and load their bikes might have to wait a little longer.
The San Juan National Forest’s roads and trails remain largely buried under snow. Wet, muddy areas where snow has begun to melt are easily damaged by hikers, bikers, horses and vehicles. This damage can be both expensive to repair and destructive to natural areas. Please stay off wet and muddy roads and trails.
Trails
Some low-elevation trails have begun to thaw out, which can tempt hikers, bikers and horseback riders. Hiking and riding on muddy paths damage our valuable forest assets, such as streams, vegetation, and fish and wildlife. 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. Conversely, folks traveling through muddy conditions create ruts that channel water and persist on the trail. Still want to recreate? We recommend visiting gravel roads or paved pathways that have melted out and are accessible without causing resource damage.
Roads
The Dolores and Pagosa ranger district recreation staff will begin assessing roads in April and opening as conditions allow, except for roads and trails currently closed to protect elk and deer, which will open May 1.
The Columbine Ranger District will begin opening most low elevation roads May 1, except for Hermosa Park Road 578, which will reopen later.
The San Juan National Forest will continue to monitor road conditions; upper-elevation and backcountry roads will be opened June 1 or as conditions permit.
Visit our Road Conditions webpage for more specific information. Spring conditions are variable, and visitors should be prepared to encounter system roads that are impassable due to snow drifts, waterlogged roadbeds, down trees, or other debris.
Roads are closed seasonally to wheeled motorized vehicles to protect critical wildlife habitat and/or to prevent damage to road surfaces. Closures offer wildlife herds forage, shelter and protection from disturbance over the winter and into early spring, when animals are most vulnerable.
Additionally, wheels create ruts in wet roads, making travel rough and possibly increasing water run-off velocity that could lead to subsequent erosion. Increased silting into local water sources can be damaging to both the waterway and the aquatic life within.
Vehicles on soft roads can also cause large mud holes. The road or trail is not ready for travel if you leave a tire print or a boot print in the mud. Delay your trip on the road or trail until the mud dries. Even though a road may appear dry at its beginning does not mean it’s ready to be traveled on further up in elevation or distance.
All travel on the forest is regulated by the Motor Vehicle Use Maps that can be found online. When visiting the national forest, please follow Leave No Trace principals and to get the most out of your experience, visit the Know Before You Go website.
For specific road information, visit our road conditions webpage or contact your local district office:
• Columbine Ranger District, (970) 884-2512.
• Dolores Ranger District, (970) 882-7296.
• Pagosa Ranger District, (970) 264-2268.
For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874 or visit the forest website.
