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2011 Map of Bonanza

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Bonanza
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Bonanza sits at the heart of this high-elevation landscape, where the geography is defined by a dense concentration of hard-rock mining operations. The map documents an intensive industrial history along Rawley Gulch and Kerber Creek, evidenced by dozens of named claims including the Rawley Mine, Cocomongo Mine, and American Revenue Mine. This area near the Saguache County line reveals a complex network of forest roads like Co RD PP and Toll Road that connect former mining camps and production sites like Kerber City and the Superior Mill.

Beyond the industrial activity, the terrain rises sharply toward Antora Peak and Sheep Mountain, forming a high alpine environment where named drainages like Slaughterhouse Creek and Brewery Creek descend toward the valley floor. The placement of the Mountain Lake Dam and various cemeteries or landmarks like Graveyard Gulch and Picnic Gulch provide a window into the daily infrastructure and social geography of this mining district long after its initial boom.