The San Juan National Forest will soon begin closing some campgrounds and reducing services for the fall and winter season. Please check the San Juan National Forest’s campground status webpage before visiting the Forest to know what sites and services are available.
Some campgrounds will remain open, but offer limited services, meaning there will be no camp hosts, trash pickup, water, electricity, and/or no toilets available. Snow may cause sites to be closed earlier than indicated.
Pagosa:
- East and West Fork Campground will close on Sept. 24.
- Palisades and Cimarrona Campgrounds will remain open until Nov. 17, with limited services after Sept. 24 – toilet only.
- The remaining Pagosa campgrounds will close on Sept. 24.
Columbine:
- Haviland and Vallecito Campgrounds will remain open until Nov. 26, with limited services after Sept. 24 – no water, one toilet, and one loop of the campground available.
- South Mineral and Snowslide Campground will remain open, with limited services after Sept. 24 – no trash and water at either campground, no toilets at Snowslide, one toilet available at South Mineral.
- The remaining Columbine campgrounds close starting Sept. 24 with some that closed Sept. 17.
Dolores:
- The Juniper Loop of McPhee Campground will be open until Nov. 17 with limited services after Sept. 24 – Porta Potti and dumpster only.
- House Creek Campground will be open until Nov. 1 with limited services after Sept. 24 – bathroom and dumpster.
- Stock corrals at Transfer Campground will remain open until Nov. 17, with no services after Sept. 24.
- Burro Bridge Campground will be open until Nov. 17 with limited services after Sept. 24 – bathroom only.
- The Pinyon Loop and group sites at McPhee Campground and all other Dolores campgrounds will close on Sept. 24.
The Dolores Ranger District’s Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) inspection program at McPhee Reservoir will also begin reducing operating hours this month. When ANS inspections are unavailable, only non-motorized, non-trailered exempt boats can launch on to the reservoir. The last day for inspection at McPhee and House Creek is October 31.
- McPhee: Starting Sept. 20, inspections will be conducted from 8:00am – 6:00pm.
- House Creek: Sept. 1 – Oct. 31 inspections will be conducted from 8:00am – 6:00pm. Friday – Monday only.
For specific information, please check the campground status page or contact the 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, visit the forest website
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