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1967 Map of Mosca Pass

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Mosca Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The Sangre de Cristo range dominates this 1967 landscape, where the eastern edge of the Great Sand Dunes National Monument meets the high-country drainages of the San Isabel National Forest. The topography is defined by sharp elevation shifts between Carbonate Mountain and the deep incisions of Zapata Ridge. Human presence is sparse and concentrated along water and transport routes, notably at the Singing River Ranch and via a network of steep routes like the Mosca Pass Trail and Huerfano Trail.

Water management is evident through a series of high-altitude catchments, including Smith Reservoir, Wilson Reservoir, and Montez Reservoir. These features, along with the headwaters of the Huerfano River, illustrate the vital role of snowmelt and creek drainage in this arid environment. The map also records early industrial and utility markers, such as a Gravel Pit near Mosca Pass, a Radio Tower, and several remote wells, reflecting the intersection of conservation lands and local resource utilization.