2011 Map of Columbine Pass

About this map

The Needle Mountains dominate this high-elevation landscape, where sharp peaks and high-alpine basins define the topography of La Plata County. In the northwestern corner, the Chicago Basin is surrounded by some of the region's highest points, including Windom Peak, Mount Eolus, and Jupiter Mountain. This early 21st-century survey reveals a history of resource extraction reaching into these remote heights, evidenced by the Aetna Mine and the Vallecito Group Mine situated near the headwaters of Vallecito Creek. Water management for the region is noted through features like the Durango Reservoir Number 1 and its associated Durango Number 1 Dam, while the lower elevations show the transition from steep gulches like Missouri Gulch to the broader expanse of Silver Mesa and Endlich Mesa.