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2016 Map of Clyde Lake

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

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The San Juan National Forest defines the character of this high-elevation landscape in Colorado. Water management is central to the area's geography, evidenced by a dense network of catchments such as Clyde Lake Reservoir, Cleveland Reservoir, and the smaller Knight Spring Reservoir. These features, alongside Clyde Lake, provide essential irrigation and stock water for the surrounding mesas. The terrain is deeply incised by drainages like Deadman Draw and Schoolhouse Draw, reflecting the complex hydrology of the West Dolores River basin.

Transportation through this portion of the forest is dominated by recreational and access paths, including the Stoner Creek Trail and the Willow Divide OHV Trail. High mesas like Stoner Mesa and Taylor Mesa are separated by significant topographical breaks such as Big Hell Canyon and Little Hell Canyon. This map captures a landscape dedicated to forest management and water conservation, where naming conventions like Copper Gulch and Sheep Canyon hint at the historical livestock and mining interests that once shaped local land use.