San Isabel National Forest

San Isabel National Forest spans 363,388 acres across south-central Colorado, encompassing diverse ecosystems from montane forests to alpine tundra. The forest is home to several 14,000-foot peaks including Mount Elbert, Colorado's highest mountain, and offers exceptional opportunities for mountaineering, backcountry exploration, and scenic alpine recreation. Visitors can access over 300 miles of trails ranging from leisurely day hikes to challenging multi-day backpacking routes, with popular destinations including the challenging Collegiate Peaks Wilderness and the scenic South Fork Valley. The forest supports excellent fishing in streams and high-altitude lakes stocked with cutthroat and brook trout, while winter transforms the landscape into a backcountry skiing and snowshoeing paradise with access to numerous ungroomed trails and high-elevation terrain.