Loading map...

1967 Map of Cochetopa Park

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Cochetopa Park
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

Cochetopa Dome anchors this high-elevation landscape in the late 1960s, marking a rugged intersection of hydrology and administrative boundaries. The area serves as a significant drainage divide, with the Continental Divide winding through the Cochetopa Hills to the south. This transition is further reflected in the land management, as the territory is split between the Gunnison National Forest and the Rio Grande National Forest.

Evidence of remote high-country activity is sparse but specific, centered on the Quarter Circle Ranch and a nearby Landing Strip. A complex network of watercourses, including Cochetopa Creek, Saguache Creek, and Los Pinos Creek, defines the drainages between prominent landmarks like Mesa and numerous prospects. Several jeep trails provide the only vehicular access through steep gulches such as Mexican Gulch and Van Tassel Gulch, illustrating the era's reliance on specialized transportation for ranching and mineral exploration in the Colorado high country.