San Juan/Bridge Campground

The Great Outdoors

San Juan National Forest, found in southwestern Colorado, encompasses over 1.8 million acres. The terrain ranges from alpine meadows to wetlands to prairie to high-desert mesa, and the park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including desert, aquatic, and woodland creatures.There are several hundred miles of trails, some strictly for hiking while others are multi-use, shared with bikers and horseback riders. Some trails ascend past the treeline to raw, bare mountaintops that are higher than clouds. Other trails descend deep into canyons and gullies, carved by a million years of flowing river water. There are trails that meander into deep woods, through bright, airy meadows full of sweet-smelling grass and wildflowers, and waterfalls that flow year-round. The Piedra Falls, which is not far from San Juan/Bridge Campground, flows over ancient volcanic rocks, remnants of a long-gone volcano, and descends in a nearly perfect freefall into a pool. Also close by is a poorly kept secret: the ice caves. A fissure deep in the earth holds snow and ice year-round, and due to its location, the caves rarely warms above freezing.Along the way, keep a sharp eye out for wildlife. In this remote part of Colorado, they are not accustomed to human presence and may sometimes become curious, drawn by the scent of delicious food that people often carry on their journey. A shortlist of wildlife includes black bear, elk, bighorn sheep, moose, and an occasional mountain lion. All hikers and campers should practice basic food safety to ensure that they don’t run afoul of a hungry wild animal.There are a handful of companies providing trail-riding guide services and rafting services in Pagosa Springs and the other neighboring towns. Mount a horse or a raft and embark on an adventure.

Exploring the Area

The San Juan National Forest has four different scenic byways that can be enjoyed in the comfort of a motorhome rental: San Juan National Forest Scenic Byway, the San Juan Skyway, Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway, and a Bureau of Land Management 4WD scenic byway. These long journeys take adventurers past far-flung historic towns, many of which have charming stores, restaurants, gift shops, craft breweries, and other businesses for visitors to explore.Pagosa Springs boasts several: the San Juan Historical Museum, an old-fashioned Malt Shoppe, Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park, which is a wildlife rescue facility that’s open to the public, and a hot spring. The hot spring is one of a handful in the area that’s easily accessible (most are difficult to find). Chimney Rock, CO, is home to a unique Puebloan dwelling carved out of sheer mountainside rock. The downtown area of Durango is full of historic charm with buildings and structures that date back to the 1880s. Modern stores, restaurants, and other interesting businesses now fill these buildings, adding to the eclectic yet friendly vibe that Durango has fostered over the years.At the end of a long day of hiking, exploring, and adventuring, kick up your heels outside an RV rental at San Juan/Bridge Campground and listen to the crickets and toads croon as daylight fades. Overhead, glistening stars appear in the velvety black night sky, and on an especially clear summer night, the Milky Way makes its appearance.