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1971 Map of Emory Peak

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Emory Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Chisos Mountains rise prominently across this 1971 survey of Big Bend National Park, documenting a landscape defined by dramatic elevation changes and essential water sources. The map captures the high-altitude geography around Emory Peak, showing the developed area of the Chisos Mtn Lodge and the high basin of Laguna Meadow. This era of the park’s history is preserved through the network of historic routes like the Dodson Trail and several pack trails that connect remote outposts such as Blue Creek Ranch.

The southern portion of the quadrangle transitions into the heat-radiating formations of the Sierra Quemada and the sharp profile of Elephant Tusk. Water is the primary driver of human and animal presence here, with dozens of named seeps like San Jacinto Spring, Ward Spring, and Boot Spring recorded. These features, along with scattered corrals and unnamed Ruins, offer a detailed look at the infrastructure of this high-desert wilderness before more modern visitor facilities were expanded.