1960 Map of Electra Lake

About this map

Electra Lake dominates this 1960s survey, serving as a focal point for the high country within the San Juan National Forest. To its east, the Animas River carves a deep valley followed by the narrow-gauge tracks of the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad, which passes through the small settlement at Tacoma. This corridor represents a vital link between mountain outposts, shown here before modern expansion. The landscape is defined by stark verticality, from the towering Hermosa Cliffs in the west to the West Needle Mountains in the northeast. For researchers, the map details the infrastructure of early mountain recreation and utility, including the Haviland Lake Campground, the remote Ah Wilderness Trails Ranch, and numerous high-altitude water bodies like Columbine Lake and Ignacio Lake. The network of jeep trails and pack trails reflects a mid-century era of backcountry access.