Skip to main content

Alerts

When planning your visit, review Alerts, Closures, and Fire Restrictions that are in effect on San Juan National Forest. If you have any questions, please contact the appropriate district office.

Forest Alerts

  • Falls Creek Closure Area, Camping, and Motor Vehicle Travel Restrictions

    This San Juan National Forest forest order describes closure areas, as well as camping and motor vehicle travel restrictions in the Falls Creek.
    Alert Start Date: December 12, 2025
    Forest Order: #02-13-08-25-02
  • West Fork Road and Bridge Closure Order

    The Pagosa Ranger District's West Fork Bridge is closed by Forest Order due to damage during the October 2025 flood events. Forest Road 648 (West Fork) is closed at location identified by this order.
    Alert Start Date: October 24, 2025
    Forest Order: #02-13-06-25-19
  • Multiple roads and trails damaged by flooding on SJNF

    In early October, severe flooding events created ongoing safety and access concerns for Forest users on the Columbine and Pagosa Ranger Districts of the San Juan National Forest. Available forest employees are assessing the many roads, trails, bridges, and other infrastructure that was damaged or…
    Alert Start Date: October 12, 2025
  • McPhee Park Road Closure Order

    The purpose of this order is to protect natural resources.
    Alert Start Date: August 26, 2025
    Forest Order: #02-13-05-25-15
  • Lemon Reservoir Restrictions

    The following act is prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands and waters on the Columbine Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest:
    Alert Start Date: June 30, 2025
    Forest Order: #02-13-08-25-06
  • Cascade Flume Safety Closure

    Area closure: The purpose of this Order is for public health and safety during the Cascade Tacoma Flume repair. The recent failure of the flume resulted in infrastructure damage and a landslide that has destabilized the Described Area. Concerns for public safety include loose debris, continuing…
    Alert Start Date: June 13, 2025
    Forest Order: #02-13-08-25-07
  • McPhee Reservoir Prohibitions

    The purpose of this Order is to prevent the infestation of aquatic nuisance species.
    Alert Start Date: April 23, 2025
    Forest Order: #02-13-05-25-04
  • Mancos/Dolores Camping Restrictions

    The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety and natural resources.
    Alert Start Date: February 2, 2025
    Forest Order: #02-13-05-25-03
  • Purgatory Ski Resort Area Vehicle Use Restrictions 

    From November 15 through April 30 annually, it is prohibited to use an over-snow vehicle (snowmobiles, timber sleds, and ski bikes) or mechanized vehicle that lacks a motor, such as a non-electric bicycle, on the Described Roads and Described Trails and OFF NFS roads in the Described Area. (See map…
    Alert Start Date: December 16, 2024
    Forest Order: #02-13-08-24-07
  • McPhee Overlook Trail Seasonal Closure

    The purpose of the seasonal closure of the McPhee Over Trail is to protect critical winter wildlife habitat. 
    Alert Start Date: December 1, 2024
    Forest Order: #02-13-05-24-11
  • Chicken Creek Ski Area Dog Restrictions 

    Dogs are not allowed in the Chicken Creek Ski Area from December 15 to March 15, annually in order to protect public safety. 
    Alert Start Date: December 1, 2024
    Forest Order: #02-13-05-24-10
  • La Plata Canyon Camping and Fire Restrictions 

    La Plata Canyon Camping and Fire Restrictions are in place to protect the natural resources in this beautiful, very popular area. Camping is prohibited outside of Forest Service designated camping areas (Darby, La Plata City, Bay City, Miners Cabin, and Madden Creek) and developed campgrounds…
    Alert Start Date: September 4, 2024
    Forest Order: #02-13-08-24-05
  • Andrews Lake Camping Restrictions 

    Andrews Lake area is closed to camping in order to protect natural resources. 
    Alert Start Date: September 4, 2024
    Forest Order: #02-13-08-24-06
  • Hermosa Creek Wilderness Occupancy and Use Restrictions

    In order to protect the National Forest System (NFS) lands and trails in the Hermosa Creek Wilderness, the following are prohibited:Entering or being upon a trail, campsite, or other area by a group larger than 15 people, with a maximum combination of people and stock not to exceed 25 in one…
    Alert Start Date: August 20, 2024
    Forest Order: #02-13-00-24-04
  • Forest Wide Camping Stay Limits

    In order to protect natural resources and to provide for public health and safety, the following are prohibited on National Forest System (NFS) lands in the San Juan National Forest:Camping, or leaving camping equipment at any location or within three (3) miles of any prior…
    Alert Start Date: August 1, 2024
    Forest Order: #02-13-00-24-03
  • Chimney Rock National Monument Occupancy and Use Restrictions

    The purpose of this Order is to protect the objects of the monument through implementing restrictions prescribed in the Chimney Rock National Monument (CRNM) Final Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
    Alert Start Date: March 20, 2022
    Forest Order: #SJNF-2022-04
  • Grizzly Peak Research Natural Area Special Closure Order

    This order implements prohibitions necessary to provide protection of natural conditions and processes in order to facilitate research and education and maintain biological diversity – the purposes for which RNAs are established on National Forest System lands – within the Grizzly Peak RNA.
    Alert Start Date: February 2, 2022
    Forest Order: #SJNF-2022-02
  • Lizard Head Wilderness Area Occupancy & Use

    This Order is necessary to protect physical and biological resources of the Lizard Head Wilderness, and to protect the human experience of Wilderness character, solitude, and the untrammeled condition of the landscape.
    Alert Start Date: July 13, 2021
    Forest Order: #SJNF-2021-01 / GMUG-2021-12
  • Forest Orders

    Visit our Forest Order page for a list of all the current Forest Orders: Closures, Fire Restrictions, and Camping, Occupancy, and Use Restrictions.Forest and Regional orders are generally temporary in nature and are designed to protect public safety and our natural resource. After review, Regional…
    Alert Start Date: January 1, 2020