2001 Map of Elwood Pass

About this map

Rio Grande National Forest and San Juan National Forest meet along the high spine of the Continental Divide in this rugged section of the San Juan Mountains. The landscape is defined by its extreme elevation and historical prospecting routes, featuring several high-altitude crossings including Railroad Pass, Silver Pass, and the eponymous Elwood Pass. Traces of the region's mining legacy are evident at the Black Diamond Mine and the Minesite and McCormick Cabin sites. The drainage patterns are complex, with the West Fork of the Rio Grande and numerous creeks like Handkerchief Creek and Wolf Creek carving through the terrain. Notable peaks such as Long Trek Mountain and Prospect Mountain tower over alpine basins and water bodies like Podge Lake and Crater Lake.