1967 Map of Grouse Creek

About this map

The Rio Grande National Forest dominates this high-altitude landscape, where the headwaters of several major drainages converge near the continental divide. In the late 1960s, this area remained largely inaccessible to vehicles, defined instead by a network of Pack Trails and Jeep Trails that followed the natural contours of the drainages. The hydrology is particularly intricate here, with the East Fork Rio Grande and West Fork Rio Grande emerging in the northwest, while the southeastern corner is shaped by Saguache Creek and the thermal presence of Hat Springs. Unusual local toponyms like Andys Hole, Anvil, and Lost Park suggest a history of early mountaineering, ranching, or prospecting. The map also traces the rugged descent of California Gulch and Trough Creek, illustrating the complex vertical relief between peaks like Hat Mountain and the deep basin floors.