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2016 Map of Cochetopa Park

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

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Cochetopa Park dominates this high-altitude landscape where the headwaters of the San Juan and Gunnison river systems meet. The terrain is defined by volcanic features like Cochetopa Dome, an expansive caldera-related structure that rises above the surrounding valleys. Water management is central to the area's history, evidenced by irrigation infrastructure such as the Mesa Ditch and Smith Ford Ditch, which redirect flow across this arid basin.

Tracing the southern and western portions of the quadrangle, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail winds through the Cochetopa Hills, marking the boundary between the Gunnison National Forest and the Rio Grande National Forest. Named landmarks like Mexican Joe Gulch and Van Tassel Gulch suggest a history of early prospectors and ranchers who navigated these drainages, while Upper Dome Reservoir and Lower Dome Reservoir provide localized water storage in this transition zone between the high peaks and open parks.