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1973 Map of Emerald Lake

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Emerald Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

San Juan National Forest encompasses this high-altitude landscape in the 1970s, where the Emerald Lake basin serves as a central hydrological landmark. The map details a complex drainage system feeding into the Los Pinos River, including numerous alpine catchments such as Lake Mary Alice, the Flint Lakes, and Little Emerald Lake. The terrain is characterized by dramatic elevation changes, from the heights of Mount Oso and Peters Peak to the deep depressions of Hell Canyon.

A network of named paths, including the Pack Trail, provides the primary means of navigating this roadless backcountry. These routes connect distinctive geographic markers like Barebottom Park and Table Mountain, crossing the high boundary between La Plata and Hinsdale Counties. The cartography captures the area before modern recreational shifts, focusing on natural features such as Paso Cañon and Mesa Lato that have long guided travel through these remote San Juan peaks.