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2016 Map of Bristol Head

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Bristol Head
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The Rio Grande National Forest dominates this high-altitude terrain in Mineral County, centered on the prominent peak of Bristol Head. The landscape is defined by its complex drainage systems and significant water storage, most notably the Santa Maria Reservoir tucked below Long Ridge. This 2016 survey illustrates the intricate network of alpine water bodies, including Lakeman Lakes, Ghost Lake, and Seepage Lake, which feed into major arteries like the Rio Grande.

Evidence of early movement through the mountains is preserved in the labeled historic routes such as Santa Maria Pass and the McKenzie Trail. These paths, alongside the Willow Creek Trail and Shallow Creek Trail, follow natural corridors through the steep topography of Table Mtn and Sawmill Gully, marking the same passages used by generations of travelers before the establishment of modern forest boundaries.