2013 Map of Fall River Pass

About this map

Continental Divide crests through this high-altitude landscape where the headwaters of the Colorado River and the Cache la Poudre River begin their descent. The terrain is marked by the engineering legacy of the Grand Ditch and Upper Michigan Ditch, massive water diversion projects that cut across steep slopes like Mount Neota and Thunder Mountain. These ditches, alongside features like Ditch Camp and the Milner Pass Road Camp, illustrate the historic effort to manage alpine water resources in the early twentieth century. Traces of human presence are visible at the Lulu City Cem, a remnant of the mining boom era near Skeleton Gulch, while the Phantom Valley Trading Post serves as a reminder of early tourism and commerce in the Kawuneeche Valley. From the high elevations of Specimen Mountain to the specialized road features like Tundra Curves on Us-34 E, the map documentation highlights the transition from resource extraction to managed parkland.