2016 Map of Big Soap Park

About this map

Gunnison National Forest dominates this high-altitude landscape in the West Elk Mountains, where a complex network of drainage basins and ridges defines the terrain. The map captures an era of backcountry accessibility, with long-established pathways like the Curecanti Trail and Soap Creek Trail following the natural contours of deep valleys such as Smooth Canyon and Jackass Gulch. The presence of named features like Beaver Jungle and the central clearing of Big Soap Park indicates a land long utilized for its natural resources and seasonal grazing, while the numerous peaks including Sheep Mtn and Bonfisk Peak served as vital landmarks for navigation. From the crossing at Curecanti Pass to the high reaches of Kaufman Ridge, the map documents a geography where transport remained largely limited to trail-bound movement through the drainages of Coal Cr and its tributaries.