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2016 Map of Medano Pass

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Medano Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The high Sangre de Cristo Mountains define this landscape, where the Saguache, Huerfano, and Alamosa county lines meet at the continental divide. Medano Pass serves as a critical geographic notch between the peaks, providing a historic route through the range. The map illustrates a complex hydrologic network including Hudson Ditch, Medano Ditch, and Medano Cr, alongside high-altitude features like Medano Lake and the McKinley Clay Reservoir.

Protection of this unique environment is evident in the overlapping boundaries of the San Isabel National Forest, Great Sand Dunes National Preserve, and Great Sand Dunes National Park. Steep terrain transitions from the 13,000-foot heights of Mt Herard and Mt Zwischen down into deep drainages such as Big South Canyon and Sawmill Canyon. Backcountry access is documented via the Sand Ramp Trail and Medano Lake Trail, tracing the paths used by travelers across this high Colorado wilderness.