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1964 Map of Bear Mountain

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Bear Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

San Juan National Forest terrain dominates this mid-century survey, which reveals a complex drainage network at the boundary of Hinsdale and Archuleta counties. High peaks like Bear Mountain overlook remote interior reaches such as Bear Park and Lone Tree Park, illustrating the high-altitude wilderness before the expansion of more modern access. The map details a landscape defined by water and narrow corridors, including the Piedra River and the steep walls of Second Box Canyon.

Movement through this wilderness relied on a traditional network of primitive routes. Numerous named pack trails, a jeep trail, and a stock driveway are carefully plotted, tracing the historical patterns of livestock movement and early recreational access. These paths follow the contours of drainages like Weminuche Creek, Little Sand Creek, and Coldwater Creek, providing a technical look at the land's natural architecture and the specific routes used by foresters and early backcountry travelers.