1960 Map of Independence Pass

About this map

The Continental Divide dictates the high-altitude landscape of this 1960 survey, marking the jagged boundary between Pitkin and Lake counties. The Roaring Fork River begins its descent near the mining settlement of Independence, where prospects dot the slopes of Independence Mountain. This era highlights significant water engineering projects designed to move resources across the divide, including the Lincoln Gulch Connection Canal, the New York Collection Canal, and the Twin Lakes Reservoir and Canal Co Tunnel No 1. To the southeast, the settlement of Everett sits at the junction of alpine gulches. High peaks such as Grizzly Peak and Ouray Peak overlook a terrain shaped by both extraction and early recreation, evidenced by the Ruby Mine near Ruby Lakes and the established Lost Man Campground.