1965 Map of Big Soap Park

About this map

Waterman Ranch stands as a notable human outpost within this mid-1960s survey of the high country north of the Black Canyon. The landscape is defined by the headwaters of several drainages, including Coal Creek and the various forks of Soap Creek, which carve through the Gunnison National Forest. High-altitude features such as Curecanti Pass and the northern reaches of the West Elk Wilderness suggest a region primarily used for grazing and wilderness recreation rather than intensive settlement. The geography is characterized by distinct peaks like Sheep Mountain and Haystack Mountain, while numerous labels for Pack Trails indicate the primary means of moving through the complex system of ridges and basins like Coal Basin and Big Soap Park.