Interpretive Programs

Join SJMA and Mountain Studies Institute to learn about forest ecology, watersheds, climate change, and the future of snowpack in the San Juans by digging snow pits and taking a winter interpretive hike. Snowshoes will be provided if necessary. Back by popular demand, these snowshoe hikes are a great opportunity to explore the snowy landscape

Join SJMA and Mountain Studies Institute to learn about forest ecology, watersheds, climate change, and the future of snowpack in the San Juans by digging snow pits and taking a winter interpretive hike. Snowshoes will be provided if necessary. Back by popular demand, these snowshoe hikes are a great opportunity to explore the snowy landscape

Join Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance for and Earth Day Clean-Up along Road G in partnership with Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Battle Rock School & Osprey Packs. Help us keep this beautiful landscape clean while giving back to our public lands. When: April 22, 2025 from 9am - 12pm Where: Meet at Battle Rock

May 10th is the SJMA Durango Nature Center opening day! Before the Nature Center opens to the public, join experienced birder Mike Foster for a guided birdwatching excursion. Limited to 8 adults, this morning walk will focus on spotting and identifying the many bird species that thrive in the riparian habitat along the Florida River.

Do you have a kid joining us this summer for camp? For the second summer in a row, SJMA is opening our Durango Nature Center to everyone. Do you volunteer with SJMA? Meet fellow like-minded volunteers and staff! Are you a member or donor that knows about our beloved Nature Center but never seen it

Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day with a Wildflower Walk in Sand Canyon! Join us on Saturday, May 17th for a special guided wildflower walk through the stunning landscape of Sand Canyon. As we explore this high desert canyon, we’ll take our time identifying native plants and learning about the diverse flora that thrive in this

SJMA's Nature Center Education Specialist, Julie Campbell, "Sunday Strolls" summer series begins in May and continues through September. The first of the summer series focuses the rare treat of flowers blooming throughout the four ecosystems on the 142-acre nature preserve. Families welcome! When: May 18th, 8am - 10am Where: SJMA's Durango Nature Center What to

Again this year, SJMA in conjunction with the US Forest Service, Pagosa and Bayfield Ranger Districts, is hosting educational geology hikes, free for the public, from May through October. These interpretive hikes, led and presented by geologist Dave Bouquet, will be in an area of the San Juan National Forest rich with evidence of earth’s

Join experienced birder Mike Foster for a guided birdwatching excursion. Limited to 8 adults, this morning walk will focus on spotting and identifying the many bird species that thrive in the riparian habitat along the Florida River. After the walk, participants will gather to discuss their sightings and observations. When: May 24th, 2025 from 8am-10am

We’ve got exciting news! Audubon Rockies and Weminuche Audubon Society join us to kickoff SJMA Pagosa's 2025 Interpretative Hike Season. This leisurely Bird ID Walk will trace the old Wolf Creek Road grade accessed from West Fork Road north of Pagosa. We expect plenty of birds back in the neighborhood with the spring migration! When:

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Want to know more about nature? Flora, fauna, geology, clouds, water, you name it: our trusty crew of volunteer naturalists can enlighten you while on a pleasant stroll in the San Juan Mountains. The fun, fact-filled nature hike is moderate. We’ll be moving at a “walking” pace for around 1-2 miles. Wear walking shoes and

SJMA's Nature Center Education Specialist, Julie Campbell's Nature Center Summer Series begins in May and continues through September. During this stroll, you will delight in creatures of the sky, earth, and water in this bird and animal discovery walk. Families welcome! When: June 8th, 8am - 10am Where: SJMA's Durango Nature Center What to Bring:

Join us for a walk on the dark side! Amateur astronomer and Pagosa Sidewalk Astronomers founder Dena Laterza guides hikers into the moonlit landscape of the Coyote Hill trail system in the Pagosa Springs area. See the stately Ponderosa pines of the San Juan National Forest in a whole new light as they take on

Again this year, SJMA in conjunction with the US Forest Service, Pagosa and Bayfield Ranger Districts, is hosting educational geology hikes, free for the public, from May through October. These interpretive hikes, led and presented by geologist Dave Bouquet, will be in an area of the San Juan National Forest rich with evidence of earth’s

Want to know more about nature? Flora, fauna, geology, clouds, water, you name it: our trusty crew of volunteer naturalists can enlighten you while on a pleasant stroll in the San Juan Mountains. The fun, fact-filled nature hike is moderate. We’ll be moving at a “walking” pace for around 1-2 miles. Wear walking shoes and

Want to know more about nature? Flora, fauna, geology, clouds, water, you name it: our trusty crew of volunteer naturalists can enlighten you while on a pleasant stroll in the San Juan Mountains. The fun, fact-filled nature hike is moderate. We’ll be moving at a “walking” pace for around 1-2 miles. Wear walking shoes and

Join SJMA and the Durango Astronomical Society for our second year of summer star party series located at SJMA’s Durango Nature Center! All are welcome, amateur astronomers and enthusiasts alike, for a family friendly event discussing and observing our night skies –  the moon, planets, star clusters, galaxies, and nebulas. Just before sunset, an expert

SJMA's Nature Center Education Specialist, Julie Campbell, summer series begins in May and continues through September. For this week's walk, enjoy learning of native plants good for foraging and used by native peoples. Families welcome! When:  June 22nd, 8am - 10am Where: SJMA's Durango Nature Center What to Bring: Water and a lunch if you'd

Come marvel at the beauty and bounty spreading across the summer landscape. We'll be walking with wild plants expert Lake MuCullough (owner of Earthsense Herbals) on this fun and educational ramble through the forest! When: June 26, 2025 9am - 1pm Where: Piedra River Trailhead, north of Pagosa along FR 631 (Piedra Road) What to