Uncompahgre National Forest

Uncompahgre National Forest spans 582,599 acres of stunning high-altitude terrain in southwestern Colorado, featuring dramatic peaks, pristine alpine lakes, and over 500 miles of maintained trails. The forest encompasses portions of several 14,000-foot peaks and offers exceptional opportunities for backpacking, day hiking, and mountaineering, with trails ranging from gentle creek-side walks to challenging alpine scrambles. Winter transforms the landscape into a backcountry skiing and snowshoeing paradise, with reliable snow at higher elevations and numerous ungroomed winter routes. The forest supports excellent trout fishing in high mountain streams and lakes, OHV opportunities on designated roads, and scenic drives like the Million Dollar Highway connecting gateway towns.