1958 Map of Monarch Lake

About this map

Monarch Lake serves as a focal point for this 1958 survey of the high-altitude divide between Grand and Boulder counties. The landscape is defined by the steep crest of the Continental Divide, which separates the drainage of Arapaho Creek from the headwaters of South St Vrain Creek and Middle Fork Boulder Creek. This era of the Arapaho National Forest shows a network of pack trails facilitating movement through demanding terrain, including the Arapaho Pass Trail and High Lonesome Trail. Mining interests, though remote, are documented by the High Lonesome Mine and the Fourth of July Mine near Arapaho Pass. Glacial features such as Arapaho Glacier and Isabelle Glacier highlight the year-round ice and snow pack that feeds alpine water bodies like Lake Dorothy and Columbine Lake.