Loading map...

1958 Map of East Portal

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of East Portal
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Continental Divide serves as the backbone of this high-altitude 1958 survey, where the engineering marvel of the Moffat Tunnel pierces the granite beneath Rollins Pass. At the eastern entrance, the settlement of East Portal marks the transition from the surface rails to the subterranean passage, while the winding Old Railroad Grade provides a physical record of the earlier, treacherous path over the crest. This route famously includes the sharp curve at Riflesight Notch, reflecting the extreme technical challenges faced by early mountain railroading.

Water management and natural alpine features dominate the surrounding terrain of the Arapaho National Forest and Roosevelt National Forest. High-altitude basins are dotted with numerous named water bodies such as Yankee Doodle Lake, Jasper Lake, and the Crater Lakes. The presence of Skyscraper Reservoir and the Aqueduct label indicate the ongoing importance of these drainages for water storage and transport in the mid-20th century, even as the high-pass settlement of Corona had already faded into a historical site.