Montrose's high country is the Uncompahgre National Forest

When people in Montrose say they are heading “up to the forest,” they usually mean the Uncompahgre National Forest. It is one piece of a larger unit, the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, often shortened to the GMUG, that stretches across many Western Slope counties.

The office that handles the land closest to Montrose is the Ouray Ranger District, based right in Montrose. That is the office to call about road conditions, trail status, and rules for camping or cutting firewood. Forest land has its own layer of rules separate from BLM land or a state park, even though they can sit side by side on the map.

High in the forest is the Uncompahgre Wilderness, a protected area where motors and bikes are not allowed and travel is on foot or horseback. Trails reach it from places like the forks of the Big Cimarron River. Wilderness keeps the country quiet and wild, but it also means no quick mechanical rescue, so it rewards careful planning.

Mountain weather turns fast, and high roads open and close with the season. Before a trip, check the Ouray Ranger District for current conditions, maps, and any fire or travel restrictions.