Living in Forest Lakes, Bayfield CO: The Real Pros & Cons
Quiet, forested, national forest trails just about out your back door, and a private lake — Forest Lakes is the biggest neighborhood in all of La Plata County, and one of its most affordable. We’ve sold homes here for years, we have a client under contract here right now, and we polled our past clients who live here. This is the good, the bad, and the ugly — from people who actually live it.
Why Forest Lakes Keeps Coming Up in Buyer Conversations
If you’re shopping Durango-area communities between roughly $400K and $800K, Forest Lakes homes are going to pop up in your search — constantly. Our relocation clients ask about this neighborhood more than almost any other, and this page covers the exact conversations we have with them.
Forest Lakes climbs gradually from about 7,300 feet to around 8,400 feet through hilly, pine-covered terrain, with national forest bordering the neighborhood on multiple sides. Price ranges start in the low $400s and run past $1.2 million — but most homes sit in the $400K–$600K range, with a handful between $600K and $800K and far fewer above that. Lots typically run right around an acre or less. Compare that to in-town Durango, where finding anything under $600K–$650K within 15 minutes of downtown is genuinely tough, and you can see why value-focused buyers keep landing here.
The Five Pros of Living in Forest Lakes
These aren’t guesses — they come from polling our own clients after they’d lived here a while, plus years of showing homes in this neighborhood.
It Actually Feels Like Colorado
Pine trees throughout, hilly mountainous terrain, and national forest access on multiple sides. One of our clients — an ultra runner — moved here specifically for the trail access and loves it. Homes in Upper Forest Lakes can have phenomenal long-distance views, looking a hundred-plus miles out toward New Mexico.
A client of ours from Florida who closed here just a couple weeks ago has lived all over the country — and in other countries — and says these views and this neighborhood are exactly what he was looking for.
A Private Lake, Plus Real Amenities
Lake Simpatico is private to the neighborhood: kayak, paddleboard, and fish — you can keep two fish per person per day, and the fish in there get big. A roughly one-mile trail loops the lake, with national forest access right behind it.
Amenities include two parking areas with restrooms, a covered picnic bench, a playground with swing sets and a handball wall, a half-court basketball court, and a rentable community building near the entrance. The catch: no swimming, and no motorized boats.
You Can Really Stretch Your Dollar
Entry point is right around $400K — occasionally as low as $350K–$360K for mobile or modular homes, funkier layouts, or homes needing work. But you can find a home around $400K here that needs very little. Within 15 minutes of downtown Durango, it’s very tough to find anything at all under $600K–$650K.
Yes, the drive to Durango is longer — but it’s a genuinely pretty forested corridor the whole way in.
A Strong Sense of Community
A good friend of ours lives here, and it’s his favorite thing about the neighborhood. While his family traveled, a neighbor plowed their driveway, took care of the property, and brought in their trash. The Forest Lakes Facebook group answers questions in five to ten minutes — and during a fire near the neighborhood last year, everyone was sharing news and helping each other in real time.
Beyond the subdivision, Bayfield’s community is strong too, including a great farmers market — local beef, great cookies — that meets at the Pine Valley Church parking area.
The Outdoor Amenities & Location
Thirteen minutes to Bayfield, about 33 to downtown Durango — and surrounded by places most out-of-state buyers have never heard of. Vallecito Reservoir is roughly 20 minutes away, with Lemon Reservoir just beyond it, both wrapped in hiking trails and national forest. Above Vallecito, the Pine River trail climbs into the Chicago Basin — four 14ers and some of the prettiest country in Colorado.
You’re under an hour to Purgatory ski resort, about an hour and a half to Wolf Creek, and roughly 45 minutes to Durango Hot Springs, fresh off an $11-million-plus renovation. Explore more of the Lake Area communities nearby.
The Pattern We See
Clients who choose Forest Lakes almost always name the same three things: the forest, the lake, and the price. Clients who pass on it almost always name just one — the drive to downtown Durango. Everything else on this page is detail; that’s the core trade.
If we ever move, we want to stay in Forest Lakes. We love the community.— A Forest Lakes resident & friend of the team
See What’s on the Market Right Now
Homes here move, and what’s listed today won’t be listed in two weeks. Browse current Forest Lakes and Durango-area listings — or tell us your range and we’ll flag the ones worth your time.
The Forest Lakes Price Ladder
In the video above we walk through actual listings at each price point. Homes come and go, but the pattern holds: every $100K step up buys visibly more home and more updates.
| Price Range | What You’re Typically Looking At |
|---|---|
| $350K–$400K | The occasional low entry — mobile or modular homes, funkier layouts, or properties needing some work. |
| $400K–$500K | The true entry point. You can find homes here that need very little work — nearly impossible to say anywhere within 15 minutes of downtown Durango. |
| $500K–$600K | The heart of the neighborhood. Most Forest Lakes homes trade in the $400K–$600K band. |
| $600K–$800K | A smaller pool — noticeably bigger homes with more updates, a clear step up from the entry tier. |
| $800K–$1.2M+ | The top of the market here: far fewer homes, often with the standout view lots in Upper Forest Lakes. |
Lots typically run around an acre or less, with a few larger exceptions. Not sure this is your price-to-lifestyle fit? Try our Neighborhood Finder to compare Forest Lakes against every other community we cover.
The Five Cons of Living in Forest Lakes
Our clients who live here asked us to make sure you know these before you fall in love with a listing photo.
Snow & Elevation
The neighborhood climbs from roughly 7,300 to 8,400 feet — enough that the Durango Weather Guy publishes separate winter reports for Upper and Lower Forest Lakes. Clients near the top told us the daily drive down can wear on you over time; the ones who don’t commute daily barely notice.
Hiring a plow for a longer driveway runs about $80–$125 per visit, maybe six to eight times in a big winter. Heated driveway tracks are another option for tire lines and walkways.
Steep Roads & Driveways
Even in summer, some roads are steep enough with tight turns that you’ll want four-wheel drive for peace of mind — we’ve never actually needed to engage it, but shaded, icy stretches in winter are where it matters. Roads are maintained well overall, and the district does a great job plowing in winter.
Roughly 20–30% of driveways here are on the steeper side. We’ll go analyze any driveway for you — video, Google Earth 3D, the works — before you write an offer.
The Commute
Thirty-three minutes to downtown Durango is the summer number — expect longer in winter. County Road 240 is the quicker route but runs through a shaded, forested corridor that can hold icy spots. Highway 160 to the south is more open and gets more sun, so you have two options.
Smaller quirks: mailboxes are centralized (and covered) near the entrance, and you bring your own dumpsters down to the end of the neighborhood.
Metro District, Mixed Feel
Forest Lakes is a metro district with covenants — no HOA, which most of our clients love. The flip side is less of a manicured, luxury-neighborhood feel: it’s a real mix, and a few properties have a more run-down look. That said, most homes here are well maintained with genuine pride of ownership.
Full fee schedule below — including the loan catch you need to know about.
Sunlight & Home Spacing
Big pines mean some homes simply don’t get much natural light inside — the exact reason Jon’s own parents left a home in Edgemont, east of downtown Durango. Homes sit closer together in Lower Forest Lakes and spread out higher up, but it varies street by street.
Watch for vacant lots next to a listing, too. On a property we have under contract now, we tracked down the neighboring lot’s owner to learn their actual build timeline — so our client knows whether they’re buying next to two years of construction.
None of These Are Dealbreakers
Every one of these cons is manageable with the right vehicle, the right expectations, and the right due diligence on the specific property. The only one you can’t engineer around is the drive — which is why it’s the honest filter for this neighborhood.
The Metro District Fee Schedule — and the Loan Catch
Forest Lakes fees cover roads, water, sewer, common ground (including Lake Simpatico), the entrance, and the mailboxes. Part-time residents pay lower rates.
The catch: if you’re financing, these fees can affect your loan qualification. Talk to your loan officer as soon as you’re serious about a property here — and if you need one, we have a phenomenal local lender our clients rave about. We can also get you the full district documents; just reach out.
The Forest Lakes Due-Diligence Checklist
This is exactly what we walk through with clients on every Forest Lakes property — most of it before they ever get on a plane.
Upper or Lower?
Check both winter weather reports — Upper Forest Lakes gets meaningfully more snow than Lower, and the daily drive down differs too.
Analyze the Driveway
Length, steepness, pavement, sun exposure. We’ll shoot video on-site, and Google Earth’s 3D view gives you a real feel remotely.
Budget for Plowing
Longer driveway? Plan on roughly $80–$125 per plow, six to eight visits in a big winter — or an ATV with a blade, or heated tracks.
Bring the Right Vehicle
Good four-wheel drive with decent clearance handles everything here. Shaded winter roads are where it earns its keep.
Walk the Sunlight
Big pines can leave interiors dark. Check sun exposure at the actual home — at more than one time of day if you can.
Investigate Vacant Lots
A neighboring empty lot may get built on. We’ll dig into who owns it and when they plan to build before you commit.
Check Home Spacing
Lower Forest Lakes homes sit closer together; higher up they spread out. Elevation changes mean some homes overlook others.
Run Fees Past Your Lender
Metro district fees can affect loan qualification. Get your loan officer the fee schedule early — we’ll pull the documents for you.
Not Sure Forest Lakes Is Your Neighborhood?
That’s literally what we do all day. Hop on a quick Zoom and we’ll walk you through Forest Lakes against every other Durango-area community that fits your budget and lifestyle — days, nights, or weekends.
Should Forest Lakes Be on Your List?
Put it near the top if you want a genuinely forested neighborhood, love the outdoor amenities — Lake Simpatico in the neighborhood, Vallecito and Lemon Reservoirs up the road, national forest out the back door — and you’re not too concerned about the drive to downtown Durango. That drive is the number one reason our clients cross Forest Lakes off; if it doesn’t bother you, this neighborhood delivers more Colorado per dollar than almost anywhere in La Plata County.
If being close to downtown matters most, start with our In Town, North Durango, and West Durango community guides instead — then come back and compare.
Forest Lakes FAQ
How far is Forest Lakes from Durango and Bayfield?
About 33 minutes to downtown Durango in summer and roughly 13 minutes to central Bayfield. Two routes reach Durango: County Road 240 (quicker, forested, shadier — can hold ice in winter) and Highway 160 (more open, more sun).
How much do homes in Forest Lakes cost?
Entry is around $400K, occasionally $350K–$360K for mobiles, modulars, or fixers. Most homes sit between $400K and $600K, a handful between $600K and $800K, and fewer above $800K up past $1.2M. Lots typically run about an acre or less.
Does Forest Lakes have a lake?
Yes — Lake Simpatico, private to the neighborhood. Kayak, paddleboard, and fish (two fish per person per day), with a roughly one-mile loop trail and national forest access right behind it. No swimming, no motorized boats.
Does Forest Lakes have an HOA?
No — it’s a metro district with covenants. Fees cover roads, water, sewer, common ground, the entrance, and mailboxes: water $45/month (0–300 gallons, scaling up), sewer $46/month, trash $14.50/month, with lower part-time rates. If you’re financing, those fees can affect loan qualification — loop in your lender early.
How bad is winter in Forest Lakes?
Elevation runs about 7,300–8,400 feet, so Upper Forest Lakes gets more snow than Lower. Neighborhood roads are plowed well; your driveway is on you — figure $80–$125 per plow visit, six to eight visits in a big winter. A capable 4WD with decent clearance handles the steeper, shadier stretches.
Who is Forest Lakes right for?
Buyers who want the forested Colorado feel, national forest access, lake amenities, and serious value — and who don’t mind being about 33 minutes from downtown Durango. If closeness to town tops your list, look at in-town and near-town Durango communities first.
Keep Building Your Shortlist
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1911 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301
(970) 431-0008 · [email protected] · woosaproperties.com
