Rio Grande National Forest

Stony Pass jeep road, east of Silverton, Colorado. Spectacular scenery along this old wagon road over Stony Pass (12,588 feet), at the edge of the Weminuche Wilderness. Photo courtesy Robert Thigpen

The Great Divide separates the Rio Grande National Forest and the San Juan National Forest

Rio Grande National Forest is a 1.86 million acre (7,530 km²) U.S. National Forest located in southwestern Colorado. The forest encompasses the San Luis Valley, which is the world's largest agricultural alpine valley, as well as one of the worlds largest high deserts located around mountains. The Continental Divide runs along most of the forest's western border. The forest lies in parts of nine counties. In descending order of land area within the forest they are Saguache, Mineral, Conejos, Rio Grande, Hinsdale, San Juan, Alamosa, Archuleta, and Custer counties. Forest headquarters are located in Monte Vista, Colorado. There are local ranger district offices in Del Norte, La Jara, and Saguache.

See also

• List of largest National Forests
• List of U.S. National Forests