South Fork

The Town of South Fork Colorado, only recently incorporated in 1991, is located at the junction of the famous Rio Grande River and its south fork. Where highway 160 & 149 meet in the center of town, you will find the beginning of the historic Silver Thread National Scenic Byway, a spectacular route that follows the winding Rio Grande to its headwaters in the San Juan Mountains. Initially developed as a community to service lumbering and mining, the town is now the center of a rapidly growing tourist and recreation area. South Fork has a year-round population of 1200, but swells to around 4,000 during the summer months. The town is surrounded by nearly 2 million acres of national forest, including both the San Juan & Rio Grande Forests.