Dolores River Campground

The San Juan National Forest, accessible a mile from the campground, covers nearly two million acres of northern California including two alpine wilderness areas in the Weminuche and South San Juan; the wilderness area of Lizard Head, and plenty of top spots for hiking, mountain biking, wildlife watching and horse riding. McPhee Reservoir, three miles away, is a good birdwatching spot that also has boating and fishing. More mountain biking (60 miles' worth) is available via Phil's World Trail System 10 miles away near Cortez. Jumps and drops aplenty are along the tracks for experienced riders to tackle, including the Rib Cage Trail and its downhill jumps, followed by the climb back up Abajo to slide down the Rib Cage yet again. To take things more easily, the vintage Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad runs for 45 spectacularly scenic miles through the forest landscapes; pick up its local section and see its history at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum, 30 miles away. Closer to the resort, the Anasazi Heritage Center in Dolores is dedicated to local Native American and hunter gatherer cultures. In south-west Colorado, the Mesa Verde National Park (15 miles) is the biggest archaeological preserve in the US, with over 4,300 archaeological sites including 600+ cliff dwellings. These include the spectacular sight of the Ancestral Pueblo people's Cliff Palace, the oldest cliff dwelling in all North America and very much a must-see (as is The Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 20 miles from Dolores).