2019 Map of Knife Edge

About this map

The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail winds through the high-elevation terrain of southwestern Colorado, tracing the boundary between the Rio Grande National Forest and San Juan National Forest. This 2019 survey documents the complex watershed of the San Juan Mountains, where the headwaters of the Rio Grande and several significant creeks, including Texas Creek and Fern Creek, originate. Notable features such as Knife Edge and Chief Mountain dominate the skyline, while a network of alpine water bodies like Squaw Lake, Trout Lake, and Cherokee Lake are scattered across the landscape. The map highlights the intersection of Hinsdale and Mineral counties, showing how human engineering in the form of the Wee Ruby Reservoir and Fuchs Reservoir has been integrated into the natural drainage basins of the high country.