2016 Map of Liberty

About this map

Great Sand Dunes National Park and the adjacent Great Sand Dunes National Preserve dominate the southern and central landscape of this 2016 survey. The transition from the massive dune fields to the high peaks of the Rio Grande National Forest is clearly visible, with the northern edge of the map showing the small settlements of Liberty and Duncan near the mouth of Pole Cr. The map details a complex network of ephemeral watercourses and canyons, such as Cleveland Gulch and Horse Canyon, that drain into the basin. This area is a critical junction of wilderness and public lands, where the Sand Ramp Trail skirts the eastern edge of the dunes. For those studying the history of the Sangre de Cristo foothills, the map provides precise locations for these early foothill settlements and the drainage patterns of Sand Cr and Medano Cr as they emerge from the mountains.