The San Juan river one of the major tributaries of the Colorado River in the Southwestern United States, providing the chief drainage for the Four Corners region of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona.

The San Juan river originates from snow melt in the San Juan Mountains, part of the Colorado Rocky Mountains) of Colorado, it flows 383 miles (616 km)[2] through the deserts of northern New Mexico and southeastern Utah to join the Colorado River at Glen Canyon.

The river drains a high, arid region of the Colorado Plateau and along its length it is often the only significant source of fresh water for many miles.

The San Juan is also one of the muddiest rivers in North America, carrying an average of 25 million US tons of silt and sediment each year

Colorado River, Utah. 37.179722, -110.900833

37.365278, -106.900556

383 miles

Wolf Creek

East Fork San Juan River

Navajo River

Canon Largo

Chaco River

Chinle Creek

West Fork San Juan River

Piedra River

Los Pinos River

Animas River

La Plata River

Mancos River

McElmo Creek

Montezuma Creek

I arrive in Pagosa Springs and immediately locate the hot springs but the whole resort is closed. I stop at a hotel to ask a clerk and she says that I can get into the hot water at the Hippy Dip free hot springs. I drive to a small city park near the river bridge and get into the hot water.

Awake, dress and soon I am on the road to the next park. Upon arriving at Natural Bridges National Monument, I find that the campground is full, it having only thirteen sites. Leaving the park, I drive south on SR 261 and after about an hour come upon a sign that states Moki Dugway and here take some amazing photos.

Continuing south on SR 161, I come to a tee, turn right on US 163, past Mexican Hat monument and soon after, the San Juan River over which the highway crosses on a steel deck arch bridge.