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1967 Map of El Valle Creek

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of El Valle Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The Sangre de Cristo Range dominates this high-altitude landscape along the border of Costilla and Las Animas counties. Published in 1971 based on 1966 aerial photography and 1967 fieldwork, the map documents a system of remote alpine drainages and summits within the San Isabel National Forest. Key water sources such as Carneros Lake, Lost Lake, and Strawberry Lake are tucked among the steep ridges, feeding numerous creeks like El Valle Creek and Culebra Creek that flow from the divide.

Evidence of early mountain transit is visible via the Whiskey Pass Road and various jeep trails that navigate the high passes. Whiskey Pass itself serves as a primary crossing point between the western and eastern slopes. The naming conventions, including El Pedregoso Creek and San Bernardino Creek, reflect the deep Hispanic cultural heritage of this region of Southern Colorado, where land grants and traditional water rights often shaped the use of the high country.