1958 Map of East Portal

About this map

The Continental Divide forms the spine of this 1950s survey, marking the boundary between the Arapaho National Forest to the west and Roosevelt National Forest to the east. Modern engineering meets high-altitude terrain at the East Portal, where the Moffat Tunnel carries the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad beneath the divide. This transit route contrasts sharply with the remnants of the Old Railroad Grade winding toward Rollins Pass, a legacy of the area's difficult mountain passage. Numerous high-alpine basins are identified, including Devils Thumb Park and the waters of Yankee Doodle Lake and Skyscraper Reservoir. The map captures a landscape defined by its transition from industrial utility to wilderness, where early mining attempts at a solitary Mine exist alongside established trails like the High Lonesome Trail.