A collage of outdoor scenes, featuring snowy mountains, hiking trails, sunsets, and lakes. The central image showcases the majestic San Juan Mountains with a lone hiker. Surrounding images highlight various views of nature and hiking adventures.

Continental Divide Trail In Photos: San Juan Mountains

ByMac Hours Comments Reading Time: 1 minute

The San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado are the first real challenge of the Continental Divide Trail (that is, if you’re hiking northbound and you don’t consider the nearly 800 mi / 1,300 km of New Mexico to be much of a big deal). New Mexico has some climbing, but it does nothing to prepare hikers for the climbs and the elevation of Colorado.

Northbound CDT thru-hikers oftentimes find the San Juan Mountains covered in snow. Such was the case during my thru-hike. With the snow-covered trail comes wet feet, slow paces, sketchy traverses, and a complete lack of regard for where the trail actually is; the (safest) path of least resistance quickly becomes the new hiker objective (frequently this path is also known as “the ridgeline”).

I picked up my snow gear (snowshoes, ice axe, gaiters, and microspikes) in Chama, New Mexico (which you actually hitch into after crossing the border into Colorado) and headed into the San Juans having done virtually zero snow hiking previously.

For more on the Continental Divide Trail through the San Juans, check out Week 6 and Week 7 of the CDT. Here’s a look at what the San Juans had in store and what we saw during our 200 or so miles (320 km) hiking through the some of the CDT’s best terrain.

  • A person hikes along a grassy ridge in the San Juan Mountains, surrounded by patches of snow and dry grass. The scene features rolling hills, scattered trees, and distant peaks under a partly cloudy sky.

    The San Juan Mountains begin relatively dry. Just walk around the snow, it’s easy!

  • A person walks across a vast snow-covered meadow in the foreground, with rolling hills and scattered snow patches leading to the distant San Juan Mountains under a clear blue sky.

    Even if the sky looks like this when you wake up (even if it looks like this at 10:00) – it doesn’t mean that a thunderstorm isn’t going to erupt.

  • A hiker with a backpack and snow gear journeys across a snowy hillside in the San Juan Mountains under a clear blue sky, following a narrow track. The expansive landscape features patches of snow and distant hints of green terrain.

    Colorado

  • Under the expansive blue sky with wispy clouds, a snow-covered slope stretches across the San Juan Mountains. Faint tracks create gentle curves on the white surface, while sparse vegetation peeks through on the scenes left side.

    If you’re lucky, you can follow someone else’s footprints up the climbs.

  • Silhouetted trees against a vibrant sunset sky in the San Juan Mountains. Pink clouds are scattered across a deep blue background, creating a dramatic and colorful contrast above the dark treetops.

    These clouds may look pretty, but if the San Juan Mountains taught me anything it’s that the clouds are actually out here to kill me.

  • Two tents are set up on a patch of dry ground surrounded by snow in the San Juan Mountains. A fallen tree serves as a makeshift shelter for gear, while bare trees and snow-covered hills rise under the cloudy sky.

    When space was limited, we were forced to pitch our tents next to each other to avoid sleeping on the snow.

  • The majestic San Juan Mountains unfold with a rocky terrain in the foreground, leading to lush grassy slopes. Patches of snow decorate the hills beneath a blue sky dotted with scattered clouds.

    I’ve become convinced that staying on the ridge (often The Divide) is always the wiser choice.

  • A person hikes up a snow-covered mountain slope in the majestic San Juan Mountains, where snowy peaks rise above green tree patches in the distance. The sky is partly cloudy, adding to the vast and rugged beauty of the landscape.

    Sometimes it paid to look at the map and check to see if dropping early into the valley made more sense than traversing all the way around in the snow.

  • A person in red pants and a backpack is hiking across a snowy slope under a clear blue sky in the San Juan Mountains. The rugged peaks of the range are visible in the background.

    It’s best if you just stop caring about where the actual trail is and instead follow the path of least resistance.

  • Mountain peak of the San Juan Mountains with patches of snow under a vibrant sky at sunset. The clouds are tinged with shades of pink and purple, creating a striking contrast with the rugged terrain. Sparse vegetation is visible in the foreground.

    Do the

  • A muddy shoe rests in a grassy field with frost patches, reminiscent of the rugged San Juan Mountains. A black cable drapes across it, partially inserted. The surrounding grass is dry and uneven, revealing a second shoe partly hidden nearby.

    How am I supposed to tie these laces? Frozen shoes was just one of the things we had to look forward to on cold mornings in the San Juan Mountains.

  • A person climbs a snowy mountain slope with trekking poles in the San Juan Mountains. In the background, a rugged, partially snow-covered peak rises under a clear blue sky. Sparse patches of grass peek through amid the snow.

    Do you traverse around or drop down in hopes of making it to a dry patch sooner?

  • A rugged mountain ridge in the heart of the San Juan Mountains is covered with patches of snow under a clear blue sky. The rocky terrain stretches into the distance, bordered by snow-capped peaks and a vast mountainous landscape.

    Hiking up on the ridgeline. Have no idea where the trail is but I don’t care because it’s dry up here.

  • A partially frozen lake nestled in the San Juan Mountains, surrounded by snow and evergreen trees under a cloudy, overcast sky. The scene is serene with a mix of snow and visible water, framed by distant hills.

    When the clouds look like this you do not want to be up on a ridge.

  • Peek from inside a cozy tent to behold the snowy landscape with sparse trees and the majestic San Juan Mountains in the distance, all under a moody, cloudy sky.

    Taking a peek to see if the weather has cleared enough for us to continue hiking. Maybe one more game of Yahtzee!

  • A person in a green shirt and red socks lounges on a stone ledge beneath a Great Divide sign at Wolf Creek Pass, elevation 10,857 feet. Nestled in the stunning San Juan Mountains, the backdrop features maps and signs detailing the area.
  • Two men sit in the back of a pickup truck on a sunny day. The man on the left, with a beard and jacket, is beside his friend in sunglasses and a striped hoodie. They are amidst the picturesque San Juan Mountains, surrounded by rolling hills and scattered clouds.

    The back of pickup trucks – where you can expect to spend a lot of time when hitchhiking into town.

  • A person walks alone on a grassy hill, surrounded by the vast expanse of the San Juan Mountains. The sky is partly cloudy, and patches of snow are visible on the distant peaks and throughout the scene.

    “What’s the snow going to be like this year?” If you aren’t asking this a month or less before you get into the mountains, you’re asking it too early.

  • A person stands on a snowy landscape with patches of snow scattered across the rocky terrain, set against the backdrop of the majestic San Juan Mountains. They wear a light hoodie, shorts, and hiking boots as rolling hills stretch beneath a clear blue sky.

    Suncups make hiking through snow even more fun.

  • A person hikes up a snowy slope in the San Juan Mountains, surrounded by tall, sparsely-leaved trees under a clear blue sky.

    Just so everyone knows, trekking poles are not a reliable substitute for an ice axe.

  • Two hikers with backpacks stand on a rocky mountain path in the San Juan Mountains, soaking in the scenic view of snow-patched hills and distant peaks under a clear blue sky.

    Pretending to stop and take in the scenery is a great excuse to stop and take a break when you’re tired.

  • A person is hiking up a snow-covered mountain slope in the San Juan Mountains under a clear blue sky. The vast, mostly white landscape is dotted with patches of exposed rock, while a single small cloud drifts above.
  • A hiker navigates the narrow, rocky ridge with patches of snow, embraced by the vast San Juan Mountains. Forested valleys stretch beneath a clear blue sky, painting a breathtaking tableau of natures grandeur.

    Hiking ridges on the CDT.

  • Snow-covered mountain pass with rocky peaks in the background, nestled within the majestic San Juan Mountains. Patches of greenery peek through the snow on either side, as the setting sun casts a warm glow on the top of the distant mountain.

    Waking up before the sun hits the snow to hike while the ground is still frozen means you don’t posthole (aka leg break through the snow) every step.

  • A lone figure trudges across the vast snowy slope beneath a clear blue sky, framed by the majestic San Juan Mountains and a distant pine forest.

    The amount of time it’s going to take me to walk to where Moist is right now makes me very sad.

  • A yurt sits in a clearing surrounded by evergreen trees. It features a wooden walkway leading up to a deck with a picnic table. A fire pit is visible in the foreground, and the majestic San Juan Mountains rise in the background under a cloudy sky.

    The first yurt we found on the CDT. It was locked and there was no way in. That said, it had a nice deck to hang out on and nice flat spots to camp next to it.

  • A snowy landscape in the San Juan Mountains features a sparse forest of tall, thin, leafless trees under a clear blue sky. Patches of greenery peek through the snow-covered ground, conveying a serene sense of tranquility and cold.

    Snow, trees, and the sky. The three ingredients of the San Juans. And I guess mountains.

  • Snow-covered mountain landscape under a clear blue sky. Footprints trail across the pristine snow, leading toward the majestic peaks of the San Juan Mountains in the distance, creating a serene and untouched winter scene.

    Where is the trail? It’s wherever you want it to be, friend.

  • Two people at a campsite, sitting inside a tent nestled in the San Juan Mountains. Between them are playing dice, snacks, and a backpack on the tarp-covered ground. One person sports red shorts while the other is in blue, enjoying the rugged beauty of their rocky surroundings.

    When the thunderstorms roll in, it’s best to take shelter and play Yahtzee.

  • A snow-covered mountain slope in the San Juan Mountains lies majestically under a clear blue sky, with a rugged rocky outcrop to the right. Sparse snow patches and small clouds dot the horizon in the background.

    Watching your hiking buddies to see if they fall and slip down the mountainside is some solid trailside entertainment.

  • A hiker with a backpack and trekking poles stands on a snowy slope, gazing at a serene mountain lake surrounded by the rugged San Juan Mountains. The sky is partly cloudy, and distant snowy peaks are visible.

    A benefit of hiking the San Juan Mountains? We rarely had to worry about water sources.

  • A person wearing a backpack climbs a snowy hillside dotted with evergreen trees, the majestic San Juan Mountains looming in the background beneath a cloudy sky.

    If we fall down this, we’ll probably be fine. We probably won’t even slide.

  • A lone hiker ascends a grassy, rocky ridge with patches of snow in the San Juan Mountains. The expansive landscape features rolling hills under a clear blue sky, offering a sense of solitude and adventure in the vast wilderness.

    The last big of our anti-Knife’s Edge alternate. We gained the ridge instead of hiking a sketchy traverse and it was well worth the effort.

  • Two cyclists navigate a rocky trail under a clear blue sky in the rugged San Juan Mountains. The narrow path winds through barren terrain with sparse grass, and glistening patches of snow can be seen in the distance.

    A snow-free trail leading up to the ridgeline. A glorious sight in the San Juans.

  • A person in red shorts and a gray jacket jumps joyfully on a snowy mountain landscape in the San Juan Mountains. They hold trekking poles and wear sunglasses and a hat. The sky is clear, with distant peaks visible in the background.

    I am impressed with myself for getting this high off the ground with my fully-loaded pack.

  • From the perspective of someone sliding down a snowy slope, boots prominently in view, the vast snow-covered expanse of the San Juan Mountains unfolds. Pine trees frame this winter wonderland against a backdrop of distant peaks under a crystal-clear sky.

    Why hike when you can slide? Glissading is a fun (and somewhat dangerous) way to quickly make it down into the valleys.

  • A narrow dirt trail winds through a grassy, barren landscape toward the distant snow-capped peaks of the San Juan Mountains under a blue sky. Scattered patches of snow contrast with the green and brown terrain, enhancing the rugged beauty of this majestic range.

    The Continental Divide Trail – a rare sight in the San Juan Mountains.

  • The rugged San Juan Mountains boast a rocky slope peppered with patches of snow, all under a clear blue sky. Distant green hills and the varied terrain enhance the contrast between the snowy expanses and barren areas, creating an awe-inspiring landscape.

    Sometimes it can be hard to tell if following the ridgeline is going to get you into a tricky spot where you need to downclimb something dangerous or turn back. Best to just live dangerously.

  • The San Juan Mountains stand majestically snow-covered under a clear blue sky, tinged with hints of orange at sunset. Sparse trees dot the landscape, accentuating the stark contrast between the white snow and the vibrant horizon.

    Waiting for the sun to come and warm me up, a favorite morning-time activity in the San Juans.

  • A small house with a wooden deck sits elevated among sparse trees on a grassy hillside, nestled near the San Juan Mountains, under a blue sky speckled with clouds. The foreground boasts a lush green field with short grass and scattered wildflowers.

    The second yurt we found – this one you can go inside (and even stay it for a price). That said, it wasn’t that nice, but in a storm it would be epic.

  • A hiker sets up a pyramid-shaped tent in a sparse, snowy forest within the majestic San Juan Mountains. Tall, bare trees surround the campsite, with patches of snow on the ground. Distant peaks rise under a clear sky, completing this serene wilderness scene.

    Finding a nice campsite without a ton of snow = a good day.

  • A scenic view of a grassy landscape at sunset, with the sun partially visible on the horizon and casting rays across the sky. With scattered clouds and the San Juan Mountains in the background, a small body of water reflects the light beautifully.

    It was at this point I started thinking we had made it past the worst of the snow (approaching Lake City, Colorado).

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