1973 Map of Emerald Lake

About this map

San Juan National Forest defines this high-altitude landscape along the border of La Plata and Hinsdale counties. The central focus is the elongated Emerald Lake, fed by Lake Creek and accompanied by the smaller Little Emerald Lake to its south. The terrain is marked by extreme relief, characterized by prominent summits like Mount Oso and Buffalo Peak, alongside high basins such as Cave Basin and Barebottom Park. This area lacks roads, instead featuring a network of primitive transportation routes labeled as Pack Trail and Trail. These paths connect a series of alpine water bodies, including Flint Lakes, Lake Mary Alice, and Rock Lake, which feed the headwaters of the Los Pinos River and its numerous tributaries like Porcupine Creek and Flint Creek.