| Rio Grande National Forest | |
|---|---|
,_Colo.jpg) Stony Pass jeep road, east of Silverton, Colorado, along an old wagon road over Stony Pass (12,588 feet), at the edge of the Weminuche Wilderness | |
 | |
| Location | Colorado, United States |
| Nearest city | Alamosa, CO |
| Coordinates | 37°44′24″N 106°50′07″W / 37.74°N 106.8352°W |
| Area | 1,860,000 acres (7,500 km2) |
| Established | July 1, 1908 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Rio Grande National Forest |
Rio Grande National Forest is a 1.86 million-acre (7,530 km2) [1] U.S. National Forest located in southwestern Colorado. The forest encompasses the San Luis Valley, which is the world's largest agricultural alpine valley, as well as one of the world's largest high deserts located around mountains. The Rio Grande rises in the forest, and the Continental Divide runs along most of its western border.[1] The forest lies in parts of nine counties. In descending order of land area within the forest they are Saguache, Mineral, Conejos, Rio Grande, Hinsdale, San Juan, Alamosa, Archuleta, and Custer counties. Forest headquarters are currently located in Monte Vista, Colorado, but plan to move to Del Norte.[2] There are local ranger district offices in Del Norte, La Jara, and Saguache.[3]