The 158,790-acre South San Juan Wilderness is considered by many Colorado's wildest landscape. This reputation relates to the belief the South San Juans harbor the last remnant population of grizzly bears in the Southern Rocky Mountains. The South San Juans are considered suitable for two other rare species as well, the Canada lynx and the wolverine. Three RNAs are proposed within the existing wilderness, further highlighting the pristine nature of the South San Juans wilderness ecosystem.
Two large roadless areas and one small unit, with a combined acreage of 47,627 acres, are contiguous to the South San Juan Wilderness. The 25,037-acre Squaretop Mountain contains the most significant, low-elevation landscape corridor in the entire San Juans, the densely-forested connection between the South San Juan and Weminuche Wilderness Areas bridging Highway 160 between Johnny Creek and Turkey Creek. The Johnny Creek corridor extends down to ponderosa pine forests at its lowest elevations along the San Juan River. This corridor follows an elk migration route and is the most logical movement route for forest-dwelling species such as lynx, wolverine, and pine marten dispersing from the South San Juans to the Weminuche and back.
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designation is also proposed for the Clamshell area on the South San Juans' north boundary, site of the now-defunct proposed East Fork Ski Area. Another 20,690 acres comprise the Rio Blanco Corridor, a proposed wilderness addition on the area's west boundary.