1965 Map of Big Soap Park

About this map

Gunnison National Forest dominates this mountain landscape in the mid-1960s, a rugged expanse of high peaks and drainage basins defined by the West Elk Wilderness Boundary. The terrain is marked by significant elevations like Haystack Mountain and Bonfisk Peak, while the northern portion is carved by the Coal Basin. The map captures a high-altitude ranching and wilderness environment where the Waterman Ranch sits at the foot of Jackass Gulch near Big Soap Creek. Navigation through this backcountry is recorded via numerous Pack Trails crossing over Curecanti Pass and along the various forks of Soap Creek, reflecting the area's history of remote livestock management and early conservation efforts.