1955 Map of Handies Peak

About this map

Animas Forks and Eureka sit at the center of this high-altitude mining district during the mid-1950s, where the headwaters of the Animas River cut through the intersection of the San Juan National Forest and Uncompahgre National Forest. The landscape is a network of steep gulches and high basins, punctuated by established mining operations like the Sunnyside Mine and Hough Mine. Notable for its difficult terrain, the map illustrates the critical mountain crossings of Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass, which served as vital connections between the camps and neighboring valleys. The survey also notes Mineral Point (Aband), reflecting the shifting fortunes of the silver and gold extraction era. Prominent peaks such as Handies Peak and Jones Mountain tower over the gulches, including California Gulch and Placer Gulch, where the density of named mining claims reveals the intense industrial activity that once defined this remote corner of Colorado.