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2013 Map of Mosca Pass

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Mosca Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Mosca Pass serves as a central geographic anchor where the high desert terrain of the Great Sand Dunes National Preserve meets the steep eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This survey captures a transition between protected federal lands, including the Rio Grande National Forest and San Isabel National Forest, and the headwaters of the Huerfano River. The landscape is defined by deep drainages like Tellurium Gulch and Raspberry Canyon, as well as significant high-altitude water management features such as Smith Reservoir and Wilson Reservoir.

Human activity is evidenced by a network of historic routes and ranching sites. The Singing River Ranch sits near the river's path, while a system of backcountry trails like the Ute Trail 1306 and Huerfano Trail 1307 trace old movement patterns across the county line. Geological features such as Carbonate Mountain and North Zapata Ridge dominate the western portion, reflecting the area's complex mining and surveying history, hinted at by labels like Shaft Draw.