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2013 Map of Blackhead Peak

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Blackhead Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Blackhead Peak and Nipple Mountain dominate the skyline of this high-elevation landscape in the San Juan National Forest. The map detail reveals a high-alpine environment defined by prominent summits like Squaretop Mountain and the jagged formation of The Needles. Below these peaks, the drainages of Rio Blanco and Sand Creek carve through the terrain, while early water management is evidenced by the Echo Ditch near the Blanco Basin.

Tracing the path of the Quartz Ridge Trail 570 and the Coal Creek Trail 581 offers insight into the accessibility of this wilderness at the start of the 21st century. The isolation of high-mountain waters is captured at Quartz Lake, positioned at the base of Quartz Ridge. This survey serves as a precise record of the trail networks and hydrologic features of Archuleta County, from the winding Little Blanco Trail 572 to the southern reach of the Blanco River Trail 573.