San Juan Mountains Association

For more than 35 years, SJMA staff, donors, and volunteers have played a crucial role in safeguarding the San Juan Mountains’ unique ecosystems, promoting sustainable recreation, and fostering environmental education. Our efforts have made a tangible difference, from maintaining pristine hiking trails and restoring native habitats to organizing educational programs that inspire the next generation of stewards. However, to sustain and expand our impact, we need your support now more than ever. Check out what we were able to accomplish last year with your support!

1. Our education team has provided experiential nature programs to more than 4,600 youth and 960 adults since January, inspiring future stewards of the land. This year, we were able to expand our youth programs in La Plata County to Bayfield and in Montezuma county to Towaoc, and for the first time ever, into the Pagosa Springs area. Thanks to your donations, we also expanded support to families needing financial assistance to more than $16,000, enabling the kids to benefit from our outdoor summer camps and after-school Ramblers program.
2. Our Visitor Information Service (VIS) Specialists have fielded thousands of questions from visitors exploring the San Juan mountain region - either in person or by phone.
3. Thanks to private donations and support from our public lands partners, we were able to put seven Forest Ambassadors on our most popular trails. These passionate public land lovers engaged with more than 28,700 recreationists across 24 trails (think Ice Lake Trail and Blue Lakes Trail) in the San Juan, Rio Grande, & GMUG National Forests, encouraging them to recreate responsibly and "Leave No Trace."  
4. We also had two Alpine Loop Ambassadors working with the Bureau of Land Management, and they engaged with more than 10,000 visitors along this iconic high alpine destination on recreating responsibly to protect the sensitive tundra ecosystem.
5. SJMA's Wilderness Crew removed 350 down trees from trail corridors, tracked 112 miles of social trails, monitored over 400 wilderness campsites, and naturalized campfire rings within the Weminuche Wilderness, improving access for all who want to explore this area.
6. Whether it's helping with our stewardship efforts or our education programs, volunteers have leveraged SJMA efforts by dedication more than 2,500 recorded hours of their time! 
7. SJMA is leading out on one of Colorado's newest regional partnerships for conservation and recreation, the new Southwest Colorado Conservation & Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (SCCORR).
8. We're co-leading the re-establishment of the San Juan Skyway Byway Commission.  

Testimonials

"I wanted to extend my extreme gratitude to you and your team for all you have done and do across the San Juan’s. Ice Lakes has a special place for me since it led to me packing up my life and moving from the Midwest and I was very happy to see it was still just as clean and well-maintained as the day I hiked it seven years ago. Please pass on my gratitude to your team because I’m sure they don’t receive enough for all the hard work and education they do with the public. " - Brett P.

"Best kept trails, very welcoming and awesome people (Trail Ambassadors)." - Ice Lake Trail Hiker

"I send a very big Thank You to the SJMA Staff and Volunteers for the wonderful Andrew’s Lake Nature Hike yesterday. It was so much fun and an incredible learning experience. Everyone was so knowledgeable, and it was a joy to be a part of their sharing with the participants, as well as with each other. They truly love what they do, and love sharing. We talked about all we’d learned all the way back to Durango. It was a memorable time that I hope to do it again and again." - Judy S.

"Thank you for your service! The (Alpine) loop is one of the cleanest trails I travel, especially considering how much use it gets!"  - Brian

"I am so thankful to have SJMA programs in our area. Often adventure camps like this come at a price that we couldn't afford. The staff were enthusiastic, engaging and inspiring. He loved every experience and wants to become a camp counselor one day so he can lead kids in outdoor adventures.” - Parent of Middle / High School Adventure Camper

"This is always my son's favorite camp. He looks forward to it all year and asks me to sign him up for every session every year. I’m always amazed by the knowledge he brings home after his camp sessions. He points out things I’ve never noticed on trails I’ve been frequenting for the last 20 years.” - Parent of Junior Naturalist Field Camper