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2019 Map of Finger Mesa

Name: 2019 Topographic Map of Finger Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2019
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2019

About this map

The Continental Divide bisects this high-elevation landscape in Hinsdale County, marking the boundary between the Gunnison National Forest to the northwest and the Rio Grande National Forest across the rest of the quadrangle. The headwaters of the Rio Grande emerge in the southwest corner, joined by tributaries like Lost Trail Cr and Ute Creek. The namesake Finger Mesa dominates the central terrain, surrounded by a complex network of glacial features and high-altitude water bodies including Heart Lake, Pearl Lakes, and the Hermit Number 4 Reservoir.

Modern recreation and historic passage routes are intertwined here, with the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail tracing the ridge lines. The map documents numerous smaller paths and historical traces such as the Lost Trail and W Lost, which follow the deep drainages of Crooked Canyon and various mountain gulches. This survey provides a precise record of the hydrological divide where waters split toward the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through a labyrinth of creek systems.