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1965 Map of Big Soap Park

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Big Soap Park
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Waterman Ranch sits as a primary point of human settlement within this mid-1960s survey of high-elevation terrain north of Blue Mesa. The landscape is dominated by the complex drainage systems of Soap Creek, including the West Soap Creek and East Soap Creek forks, which carve deep into the Gunnison National Forest. A vast network of travel is documented through numerous pack trails and the Zack Trail, which provided essential access for ranching and forest management before the expansion of modern road systems in this part of the Western Slope.

Strategic high points like Haystack Mountain and Bonfisk Peak define the horizon, while the West Elk Wilderness boundary marks the transition into more protected alpine environments. Geologic and geographic landmarks such as Porcupine Cone, the steep walls of Smooth Canyon, and the Curecanti Pass illustrate the challenging topography that shaped the movement of early settlers and seasonal livestock between Coal Basin and the lower parks.