The Top 20 Natural Monuments in the San Juan Mountains
San Juan Mountains’s landscape is a beautiful place to explore — something that you can best experience by visiting one of our 20
beautiful natural monuments in the San Juan Mountains. To help you find the one for, you can see all the details you need to explore the best natural monuments, and better plan your next outdoor adventure!
beautiful natural monuments in the San Juan Mountains. To help you find the one for, you can see all the details you need to explore the best natural monuments, and better plan your next outdoor adventure!
Last updated: November 14, 2025
Canyon Creek Bridge and Falls
Highlight • Waterfall
Box Canyon Falls is where Canyon Creek cascades 85 feet into a narrow quartzite canyon surrounded by 100-foot walls. This developed park offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and a visitor …
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Ice Lake
Highlight • Lake
Ice Lake is a stunning alpine lake that is perfect for a break. You are surrounded by the majestic peaks of Golden Horn, Pilot Knob and Ulysses S Grant Peak. …
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Ghost Ranch
Highlight • Historical Site
In the 20th century, Ghost Ranch was the summer home and studio of artist Georgia O'Keeffe, as well as the subject of many of her paintings. It often serves as …
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Highline Trail, San Juan National Forest
Highlight • Trail
The Highline Co. Trail follows a section of the long-distance Colorado Trail. The best time of the year to hike here is from July through August, since there is likely still a lot of snow until summer.
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Ventana / La Garita Natural Arch
Highlight • Natural Monument
La Garita (or La Ventana) Natural Arch is different from many of the natural rock arches scattered around Colorado. Rather than being formed from uplifted sandstone as most arches are, …
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Clear Creek Waterfall
Highlight • Waterfall
Powerful waterfall, the trail leads right past it. Currently, the area is severely affected by avalanche damage.
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Island Lake
Highlight • Lake
Island lake is a cerulean-blue alpine lake nestled just north of Ice Lake below Grant Peak. This is one of the best views you will get in the Ice Lakes Basin.
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Chimney Rock Trailhead
Highlight • Trail
Pleasant easy one hour walk to the top of the ridge across from the Chimney Rock tower
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Highest Point of the Colorado Trail
Highlight • Summit
A small sign on a wooden post marks the High Point of the Colorado Trail. This is an amazing place to pause and catch your breath (if you can at …
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Gudy's Rest
Highlight • Viewpoint
This scenic viewpoint is named for Gudy Gaskill, the so-called Mother of the Colorado Trail. So it is not surprising that is located right on the famous long-distance trail, that …
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Treasure Falls
Highlight • Waterfall
Treasure Falls plummets down toward the trail from a high rocky outcropping over 100 feet high. The trail to the falls is short and easy, and there are many little overlooks with insightful signposts describing your trek through geological time.
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Extend your search for the best caves by checking out these guides of the top ones in the San Juan Mountains:
Front RangeLarimer CountyBoulder CountyEl Paso CountyJefferson CountyPike And San Isabel National ForestsArapaho And Roosevelt National ForestsWhite River National ForestMesa CountyClear Creek CountySan Juan National ForestMontezuma CountySawatch RangeGarfield CountySan Juan CountySummit CountyDouglas CountyFlat TopsGrand Mesa, Uncompahgre And Gunnison National ForestsGrand CountyMontrose CountyPark CountyPitkin CountyChaffee CountyLa Plata CountyLake CountyRio Grande National ForestEagle CountyTeller CountyAlamosa CountyHinsdale CountyRoutt CountySaguache CountyGunnison CountyBroomfieldGilpin CountyMedicine Bow Mountains
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