1963 Map of La Veta Pass

About this map

Sangre de Cristo Mountains peaks dominate this high-altitude landscape, where several historic thoroughfares converge to cross the continental divide. The mapping shows the critical infrastructure of mountain transit, including the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad corridor winding through the terrain near the Muleshoe settlement. Historically significant routes like the Wagon Road and Toll Road follow the drainage of Sangre de Cristo Creek, illustrating the evolution of travel from early pack trails to modern transit. Distinctive landforms such as Mount Mestas, Dump Mountain, and the precarious Windy Point define the ridge-lines. For those tracing the history of the border between Huerfano and Costilla counties, the map provides a clear view of the Grant Boundary as it interacts with local hydrology like Yellowstone Creek and Abeyta Creek.