Wilderness Rules and Regulations
The following regulations are for ALL Wilderness Areas in order to protect wilderness ecosystems.
Travel and Equipment
To lessen erosion, shortcutting of switchbacks is prohibited.
All motorized and mechanized vehicles and equipment are prohibited, including:
- Motor vehicles
- Motorboats
- Motorized equipment
- Drones
- Bicycles
- Hang gliders
- Wagons
- Carts
- Portage wheels
- Possessing, launching and landing of drones
- Landing of aircraft including helicopters
Recreation Permits
- There are currently no permits or registrations required anywhere in the Weminuche, South San Juan, Lizard Head, or Hermosa Wilderness areas.
Group Size
- Maximum group size is 15 people per group, with a maximum combination of people and stock not to exceed 25.
Camping
- Camp at least 100 feet (average 35 adult steps) from water. (50 feet in the Hermosa Wilderness)
- If campfires are allowed, they must also be 100 feet from water. (50 feet in the Hermosa Wilderness)
- Do all washing of yourself, clothes, and dishes 100 feet from water sources, using biodegradable soap or no soap. Scatter wash water 100 feet from camp and water sources.
Waste
- Pack out all trash
- Human waste: Use Human Waste Disposal System or bury human waste six inches deep in individual catholes at least 100 (average 35 adult steps) feet from camp, trails, and water sources. Do not bury toilet paper, please pack it out.
Click below for the printable PDF verion
San Juan National Forest-Wide Regulations
Wilderness Specific Regulations
Review Weminuche Wilderness Trip Planning before you go.
| Regulations for Specific Areas within Weminuche Wilderness | No Camping | No campfires or wood stoves | No restraint of livestock | No grazing of recreational livestock |
| Needle Creek Drainage Including Chicago Basin |
| X |
|
|
| Twin Lakes Above Needle Creek drainage | X | X |
|
|
| Vestal Basin |
| X |
|
|
| Emerald Lake – within ½ mile of north shore and ¼ mile of other shores | X | X | X | X |
| Little Emerald Lake - Within 500 feet of south shore and ¼ mile of other shores | X | X | X | X |
| Flint Lake - Between shore & Flint & La Osa Trails & within 200 feet of west & north shores | X | X | X | X |
| Fourmile Lake Within 200 feet of lake | X | X | X | X |
| Weminuche and East Fork Trails - Park at the junction |
|
|
| X |
| Archuleta Lake Within 200 feet of lake | X | X | X | X |
| West Fork (Rainbow) Hot springs area |
| X |
| X |
| West Ute Lake Within 200 feet of lake | X | X | X | X |
It is prohibited to build, maintain, or use a campfire: 1) within 100 feet of any lake, stream or National Forest System Trail; 2) above tree line; or 3) within Navajo Basin.
Camping, campfires, and restraining or grazing of recreational livestock are NOT permitted within 200 feet of Bear Lake, Blue Lake, Green Lake, and Red Lake.