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2011 Map of La Jara Canyon

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of La Jara Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

La Jara Creek and its complex network of tributaries define this high-altitude landscape in the southern Rockies. Water management is a primary theme of the terrain, anchored by the La Jara Reservoir and La Jara Dam in the north, and the Bluebird Reservoir to the east. These features support a ranching and recreational economy that includes seasonal sites like Braiden Cow Camp and the Elk Creek Campground near the Conejos River corridor.

Distinctive geological and ecological features are scattered across the quadrangle, from the Chicago Bogs in the northwest to the dramatic drop-offs of Ra Jadero Canyon and Romero Canyon. The southern portion of the map transitions into broader landforms like Alamaditas Mesa and Big Meadows, where Forest Service roads like FDR 249 RD provide access through the San Juan National Forest environment. The presence of numerous small lakes, including La Grulla Lake and Hidden Lake, suggests a landscape shaped by persistent glacial or volcanic history.