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1965 Map of Elk Park

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Elk Park
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

The Continental Divide snake through this high-altitude landscape of Saguache County, forming the literal and figurative backbone of the region. The map highlights the intersection of the Gunnison National Forest and Rio Grande National Forest, where the terrain drops from summits like Table Mountain into drainage basins including Cochetopa Creek and the North Fork Saguache Creek. A significant portion of the southern area is dedicated to the La Garita Wilderness, a designation that reflects the preserved nature of the high peaks and deep valleys like Cañon Hondo.

Transportation through this high country in the mid-1960s was limited to primitive routes. The Skyline Trail and various Pack Trails provide the primary means of traversal through the timberline and mountain parks. These parks, such as Elk Park and Soro Park, represent the traditional open spaces where high-mountain meadows meet the dense forest edge, a pattern crucial for both early livestock grazing and modern wilderness management.