2016 Map of Cotopaxi

About this map

The Arkansas River carves through the north of this quadrangle, creating the steep Arkansas River Canyon near the community of Cotopaxi. This high-altitude landscape is defined by its dramatic relief, spanning from the river valley up to the peaks of the San Isabel National Forest, including the prominent Wulsten Baldy. The map reveals a network of drainage systems and gulches with evocative names like Deadmans Hill, Iron Dollar Gulch, and Mine Gulch, which suggest the area's prospecting and ranching heritage. Long-distance recreation is represented by the Rainbow Trail, which skirts the eastern edges of the forest. In the south, the terrain transitions toward the northern reach of the Wet Mountain Valley, where high-elevation water features like Rainbow Lake and the Balman Reservoir anchor the mountain hydrology.