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1984 Map of Elephant Head Rock

Name: 1984 Topographic Map of Elephant Head Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The Chalk Mountains define this high-altitude landscape along the border of Archuleta and Conejos counties, where the Continental Divide winds through the South San Juan Wilderness. This area, surveyed in the late 1970s, shows a terrain shaped by water and elevation, from the prominent Elephant Head Rock to the seasonal hydrology of Dustys Meadow. Human activity is concentrated near the Navajo River and its tributaries, where structures like Bond House and Upper Camp sit amidst a network of pack trails and jeep tracks.

Water management and natural drainage are central themes here, evidenced by the Fall Creek Reservoir and numerous high-mountain lakes such as Opal Lake and Fall View Lake. The presence of a Gravel Pit and scattered wells suggests localized utility in a region otherwise dominated by the protected lands of the San Juan National Forest and Rio Grande National Forest. The map also captures several distinct waterfalls, including Bridal Veil Falls and the curiously named Vampire Falls, providing specific landmarks for researchers of the San Juan interior.