San Juan National Forest

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San Juan National Forest
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
San Juan National Forest.jpg
Map showing the location of San Juan National Forest
Map showing the location of San Juan National Forest
Location Colorado, USA
Nearest city Durango, CO
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Area 1,878,846 acres (7,603.42 km2)
Established June 3, 1905
Governing body U.S. Forest Service
http://www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan
San Juan National Forest

The San Juan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest covering over 1,878,846 acres (2,935.7 sq mi, or 7,603.42 km²) in western Colorado. The forest occupies land in Archuleta, Conejos, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Rio Grande, San Miguel and San Juan Counties.[1] It borders the Uncompahgre National Forest to the north and the Rio Grande National Forest to the east. The forest covers most of the southern portion of the San Juan Mountains west of the Continental Divide. The forest contains two alpine wilderness areas; the Weminuche and South San Juan, as well as the Piedra Area.

The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad passes through the National Forest.

Theodore Roosevelt created the forest by proclamation on June 3, 1905. Forest headquarters are located in Durango, Colorado. There are local ranger district offices in Bayfield, Dolores, and Pagosa Springs.[2] President Barack Obama designated part of the forest as Chimney Rock National Monument by proclamation on September 21, 2012.[3]

Wilderness areas

There are three officially designated wilderness areas lying within San Juan National Forest that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. All of them extend partially into neighboring National Forests (as indicated).

See also

References

  1. Table 6 - NFS Acreage by State, Congressional District and County - United States Forest Service - September 30, 2007
  2. USFS Ranger Districts by State
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

The Continental Divide of the Americas separates the San Juan National Forest and the Rio Grande National Forest