Mancos/Dolores Ranger District
San Juan National Forest • Colorado
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Get Premium AccessCamping Regulations
PROHIBITIONS
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a), the following are prohibited on the National Forest System Lands (NFS) on the Mancos-Dolores Ranger District, San Juan National Forest, described below and shown on the attached maps incorporated into this Order as Exhibits A, B, C, D (“Described Areas” and “Described Roads”):
Camping in the Transfer Campground Described Area, except if legally camping within Transfer Campground, or in the McPhee Reservoir Described Area. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(e)
Camping within 300 feet of the Described Roads. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(e)
Camping within 300 feet of the Described Trailheads and Day Use Recreation Sites. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(e)
EXEMPTIONS
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).
Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
DESCRIBED AREAS AND ROADS
Transfer Campground Described Area (Exhibit A) – All NFS lands within one mile of Transfer Campground, which includes portions of Sections 7, 8, 17, 18, and 19, Township 37 North, Range 12 West,
McPhee Reservoir Described Area (Exhibit B) –All NFS lands along the shore of McPhee reservoir from their boundary with the Town of Dolores in the east to May Canyon in the west. Continuing west past May Canyon all Lands between the southern shoreline of McPhee Reservoir south to the Forest Service Boundary, south and west to country road 25 and from the shore of the McPhee Reservoir north to CR X. T.38N, R.15W
Described Roads (Exhibits A and B)
NFSR #693, Joe Moore Road, which begins at CR P and ends at the private property north and east of Joe Moore Reservoir
NFSR #528, House Creek Road, which begins at its junction with NFSR #526, Dolores-Norwood Road and ends at the entrance of the House Creek Recreation Complex
Described Trailheads and Day Use Recreation Sites (Exhibits C and D)
Barlow OHV Trailhead T.40N, R.10W Section 33
Box Canyon Trailhead T.37N, R.12W Section 19
Gold Run Trailhead T.38N, R.11W Section 31
Sharkstooth Trailhead T.37N, R.11W Section 17
Chicken Creek Ski Trailhead T.37N, R.13W Section 32
Echo Basin Trailhead T.36N, R.12W Section 7
Boggy Draw Trailhead T.38N, R.15W Section 36
The Beach River Access T.37N, R.15W Section 16
Navajo Lake Trailhead T.41N, R.11W Section 22
Calico Trailhead T.41N, R.11W Section 25
Priest Gulch Trailhead T.38N, R.12W Section 3
Bear Creek Trailhead T.38N, R.12W Section 9
Cross Mountain Trailhead T.41N, R.11W Section 23
Lower Stoner Trailhead T.39N, R.11W Section 18
East Fork Trailhead T.41N, R.10W Section 26
Empire Boat Access Site T.38N, R.13W Section 1
Geyser Springs Trailhead T.40N, R.11W Section 6
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety and natural resources.
IMPLEMENTATION
This Order shall be in effect from February 2, 2025; at 12 a.m. through December 1, 2029 at 12 a.m., unless rescinded.
Maps identifying the Described areas is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A, B, C, and D go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sanjuan/alerts-notices.
Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions.
A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
Contact the Mancos Dolores Ranger District in Dolores, (970) 882-7296, and San Juan National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Durango, (970) 247-4874, for more information about this Order.
This Order supersedes previous Order SJ 2019 02 prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Areas.
Campgrounds in Mancos/Dolores Ranger District
Burro Bridge
Two miles northeast of Dunton, Burro Bridge is one of three campgrounds along the West …
Cayton
Dolores River: Because of Cayton's easy access to Colorado Hwy. 145 and the Dolores River, …
Mavreeso
Mavreeso Campground, located along the West Dolores River has 19 beautifully situated campsites. Many of …
Target Tree
Also known in the Ute language as "IVIKUKUCH". Target Tree Campground, located between Durango and …
Transfer Cg
The Transfer Recreation Area includes a campground and a picnic area 11 miles northeast of …
West Dolores
West Dolores Campground, located approximately a mile north of Mavreeso Campground, has 18 campsites on …
About Mancos/Dolores Ranger District
Mancos/Dolores Ranger District is a ranger district within San Juan National Forest in Colorado. This district allows dispersed camping on National Forest land.
There are 586.5 miles of roads designated for dispersed camping within this district. Download the Dispersed app to see exact road locations with GPS navigation.
Always check current conditions and fire restrictions before camping. Follow Leave No Trace principles and pack out all trash.
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