2001 Map of Finger Mesa

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this high-altitude landscape of Hinsdale County, separating the headwaters of the Rio Grande National Forest and the Gunnison National Forest. Centered on the prominent Finger Mesa, the area is defined by massive water management features including the Continental Reservoir to the northeast and the Rio Grande Reservoir at the southern edge. Small-scale mountain habitations such as Lost Trail Ranch and Ski Hi Ranch are documented near the southern valley floor, connected by the Lost Trail and the eponymous Footbridge. Evidence of resource extraction remains visible through identified Prospects and a Mine located along the upper reaches of the divide, while the southern portion of the quadrangle transitions into the protected Weminuche Wilderness.