1957 Map of Bowen Mountain

About this map

The Continental Divide snake-like path through the Never Summer Mountains defines this high-altitude landscape on the border of Jackson and Grand counties. This mid-century survey captures a wilderness dominated by massive peaks such as Ruby Mountain and Gravel Mountain, where human impact is primarily limited to early resource extraction and foot travel. The presence of the Wolverine Mine near Bowen Gulch points to the area's mining history, while the network of primitive paths like the Wolverine Trail, Parika Trail, and Gilsonite Trail suggests the routes used by prospectors and early forest rangers. Water resources are central to the terrain, with the Illinois River headwaters and a series of alpine basins including Ruby Lake, Blue Lake, and Lost Lake punctuating the mountain passes. The map also delineates the administrative boundaries of the Arapaho National Forest, Routt National Forest, and Rocky Mountain National Park.