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1967 Map of Cucharas Pass

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Cucharas Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Cucharas Pass serves as the central high-altitude crossing in this 1960s survey of the Sangre de Cristo foothills, marking the boundary between Huerfano and Las Animas counties. The landscape is dominated by the steep drainages of the San Isabel National Forest, where the headwaters of the Cuchara River and Apishapa River diverge from the ridgelines of Middle White Peak and South White Peak.

Evidence of seasonal land use and mountain transit is scattered throughout the canyons, from the Parsons Cow Camp in the southwest to the Potato Patch Campground near the Purgatoire River. The intricate network of Pack Trails and Jeep Trails connecting points like Cordova Pass and Donald Park illustrates the mid-century accessibility of these remote peaks before more modern recreational infrastructure was established. Researchers will find a preserved view of Colorado’s high-country hydrology and early backcountry camps.