1994 Map of Howard

Upland from the river, the terrain is defined by complex drainage systems such as Badger Creek and Howard Creek, which cut through the high country towards peaks like Copper Mountain. Evidence of early education and rural infrastructure appears along the tributaries, notably the Stout Cr Sch near Stout Creek. Much of the southern portion is protected land within the San Isabel National Forest, where the Rainbow Trail skirts the edge of the Sangre De Cristo Wilderness.