2019 Map of Elephant Head Rock

About this map

Elephant Head Rock stands as a prominent landmark in this high-altitude landscape where the San Juan National Forest meets the Rio Grande National Forest. The map documents a complex drainage system defined by the Navajo River and its numerous tributaries, including E Fork Navajo River and Beaver Cr. This area on the boundary of Conejos and Archuleta counties shows a wilderness largely shaped by its hydrology and sharp elevation changes, with named points of interest like Opal Lake and Red Falls providing specific navigational anchors for those traversing the backcountry. The presence of Blanco Basin and the Chalk Mountains suggests the geological diversity of the southern Colorado Rockies. While largely roadless, the inclusion of Valley Rd along the river bottom indicates the primary path for human transit through these steep wooded slopes.