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1960 Map of Electra Lake

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Electra Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

Electra Lake dominates this high-altitude landscape within the San Juan National Forest, serving as a central hub for the area's hydrology and early 1960s recreation. The eastern edge of the map follows the dramatic course of the Animas River, which is paralleled by the narrow-gauge tracks of the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad. This corridor highlights the early industrial and transit roots of La Plata County, anchored by the settlement at Tacoma and its nearby Gaging Sta.

Family-named properties like Columbine Ranch and the Hotter Brothers Ranch sit tucked beneath the towering Hermosa Cliffs, illustrating the mid-century ranching footprint in the shadow of Castle Rock. The presence of Haviland Lake Campground and the Ah Wilderness Trails Ranch reflects a shift toward tourism and wilderness preservation, particularly as the terrain climbs eastward into the Weminuche Wilderness and the West Needle Mountains.