Rio Grande National Forest
The 1.83 million acre Rio Grande National Forest is located in southcentral Colorado and remains one of the true undiscovered jewels of Colorado.
The Rio Grande begins its 1800 mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico high up in the San Juan Mountains in the western most part of the forest. The Continental Divide runs for 236 miles along most of the western border of the forest and the jagged tops of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains form the eastern border. In between these two mountain ranges sits the San Luis Valley, a large agricultural alpine valley. The Rio Grande National Forest is composed of a myriad of ecosystems ranging from high elevation desert at 7600 feet above sea level to rocky crags at over 14,300 feet in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Portions of four Wilderness Areas make up almost a fourth of the forest.
Things to Do
Recreation From the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the San Juan Mountains, the jagged peaks and rushing rivers of the San Luis Valley public lands wrap themselves around this Rocky Mountain basin. Whether viewing the mountain scenery from roads or finding a challenge on trails, visitors discover solitude and self-reliance through uncrowded year-round recreation opportunities.
Camping The Rio Grande National Forest (RGNF) has 33 campgrounds with over 651 individual sites. The majority of the campgrounds are operated by a private concessionaire that is permitted by the RGNF. Some campgrounds have on-site hosts. While electric, sewer, and water hook-ups and showers are not available, most campgrounds have potable water and vault toilets. Eight of the campgrounds have sites that can be reserved. Reservations are recommended for holiday weekends. Many campgrounds have first-come, first-served sites.
Plan Your Visit
Stay up to date on what’s happening across the Rio Grande National Forest. Before you head out, take a moment to plan ahead. Check area restrictions and see the latest campground, road, and trail closures. You’ll also find current fire restrictions and other important updates.
Current Conditions: Visit the Current Conditions page for the most recent information including road conditions, fire conditions, and more.
About Forest Orders: Sometimes we need temporary rules to protect public safety or natural resources. When a situation isn’t covered by regular forest regulations, we issue a “Forest Order.” These orders create short-term prohibitions for specific areas or activities. Forest Orders appear below as Alerts.
Volunteers
The Rio Grande National Forest is a resource we all own, and volunteering is one way to take an active part of land management by being a steward of the land we all enjoy. Opportunities can range from a single-day project to a long-term undertaking lasting for several months. What captures your interest? Trail work, campground host, bird & wildlife surveys, invasive weed pulls, historic preservation, information receptionist, wilderness restoration, conservation education? There are many ways to transfer your love of the land to the management of the land.
View our scheduled volunteer opportunities on the Rio Grande National Forest.
Contact Us
Thank you for engaging with your public lands! There are multiple ways to contact the Rio Grande National Forest. Please contact the District Office for the region of the forest you are looking for information about. See the map below for reference. You can also use the feedback form below to send a message.
Office Phone Numbers:
- Conejos Peak Ranger District - La Jara, CO (719) 274-8971
- Divide Ranger District - Del Norte, CO (719) 657-3321
- Creede Office (Divide RD) - Creede, CO (719) 658-2556
- Saguache Ranger District - Saguache, CO (719) 655-2547
- Headquarters - Please call the Divide Ranger District.
Please visit our FAQs page for more information.