Colorado is home to a whopping 54 14,000-foot+ mountains, 1,000 12,000-foot+ mountains, and countless 10,000-foot+ mountains, so one would think that it is nearly impossible to distinguish the most beautiful of all, right? I beg to differ. After writing about all things Colorado for 3 1/2 years, I have found that one mountain range in particular stands out from all the others, which is that of the beautiful San Juans:

Beginning in the southern part of the great Rockies and running through New Mexico, the San Juan Mountains are quite possibly the most beautiful mountain range in all of Colorado!
Flickr/Lance Holley
What makes the San Juans so remarkable? Spanning the Continental Divide, the mountains are home to 13 different 14ers, several turquoise lakes, pristine waterfalls, and other picturesque landscapes that must be seen to be believed.
Wikimedia Commons
Need another reason to love the San Juan Mountains? How about the fact that it is home to the must-drive San Juan Skyway...
Flickr/Kent Kanouse
Named one of America's Best Drives by Travel + Leisure, the San Juan Skyway runs 236 miles and is considered by many to be Colorado's premiere Scenic and Historic Byway.
...crystal clear Blue Lakes...
Flickr/David Kingham
To access this little piece of heaven on earth, take Highway 62 to Dallas Creek Road and after 14 miles, take the exit for the Blue Lakes Trailhead. After parking near the trailhead, you can follow the 6-mile (one way) trail to the lake.
...colorful hikes like the pictured Yankee Boy Basin...
TripAdvisor/Blusplyr
Home to a 9.3-mile point-to-point trail, Yankee Boy Basin passes through not only a lush meadow setting but several abandoned mines as well!
...world-class camping at Molas Lake Park & Campground...
TripAdvisor/TexasFire124
This picture says it all! *insert heart eye emoji guy here*
...and gorgeous towns like Ouray, Telluride, and Ridgway.
Flickr/Granger Meador
Welcome to Ridgway; the "Gateway to the San Juans" that is home to 1,000 residents, an intriguing mining history, and epic food scene. (Need we even mention this incredible landscape?!)
To learn even more about the San Juan Mountains and San Juan National Forest, please visit the USDA Forest Service's website.
Flickr/Kent Kanouse

While you are out exploring the Centennial State, make sure to check out these 10 Slow-Paced Small Towns in Colorado Where Life Is Still Simple.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Related Articles