2022 Map of McHenrys Peak

About this map

The Continental Divide serves as the high-altitude spine of this landscape within Rocky Mountain National Park, where glacial activity has sculpted dramatic landforms like the Bierstadt Moraine and Hayden Gorge. This map documents the complex water management infrastructure hidden within the wilderness, including the subterranean path of the Alva B Adams Tunnel and the high-elevation Eureka Ditch near Sprague Pass. The drainage patterns are dominated by the Big Thompson River, which flows through The Pool, collecting water from a high-country network of cirque lakes including Bear Lake, Fern Lake, and Loomis Lake. The intersection of multiple county lines, including the boundary between Larimer and Grand counties, follows the sharp ridges of the divide, illustrating how topography dictated political borders in the high Rockies.