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1963 Map of Deer Peak

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Deer Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

San Isabel National Forest dominates this mid-century survey of the high-altitude divide between Custer and Huerfano counties. The landscape is defined by its dramatic relief and alpine clearings, or parks, such as Junkins Park and South Hardscrabble Park. A prominent radio tower sits atop Deer Peak at over 11,500 feet, serving as a modern landmark in a region otherwise characterized by historical resource extraction and seasonal habitation.

Evidence of earlier human activity is found in the scattered mines tucked into canyons like Treasure Gulch and along the slopes of Wixson Mountain. The map details a network of waterways including Hardscrabble Creek and Ophir Creek that carve through the peaks. Recreational use is signaled by the Abbey Summer Camp, located near the intersection of several primitive routes, including the Bardner Road and various jeep trails that navigate the high passes of the Bigelow Divide.