2011 Map of Alma

About this map

Alma and the high-altitude industrial landscape of the Mosquito Range define this study of the upper Middle Fork South Platte River drainage. The region is a dense network of nineteenth-century mining claims and modern water infrastructure, centered on the settlement of Alma and the nearby Alma Placer. High peaks such as Mount Lincoln and Mount Silverheels loom over narrow gulches filled with historical operations, including the Sweet Home Mine, Dolly Varden Mine, and the Magnolia Mill. Traces of earlier mountain communities remain at sites like Buckskin Cemetery and the Dudley Cemetery, while the Montgomery Reservoir and the Columbia Number 1 Ditch illustrate the complex water management required in this steep alpine environment. The presence of the Bristle Cone Pine Scenic Area along Windy Ridge highlights the unique botanical value of these high-elevation slopes alongside their deep mineral history.