2011 Map of East Portal

About this map

East Portal serves as a critical junction for high-altitude transit and resource extraction along the Continental Divide. This area is defined by the engineering legacy of the Moffat Tunnel and the historical crossing at Rollins Pass, where the Needle Eye Tunnel remains a landmark for travelers navigating the mountain crest. The terrain is marked by the industrial footprints of the Mountain Goat Mine, Blue Stones Mine, and Gold Spring Group Mine, reflecting a long history of mineral prospecting in the Colorado peaks. A dense network of glacial lakes and reservoirs, including Skyscraper Reservoir, Yankee Doodle Lake, and Jasper Lake, feeds numerous drainages like Jasper Creek and South Boulder Creek. Local landmarks like Riflesight Notch and Devils Thumb provide distinct orientation points within this high-alpine landscape, while the Buckingham Campground anchors the northern end of the map's geography.