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1948 Map of Mount Big Chief

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Mount Big Chief
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

Pike National Forest dominates this mountain landscape, which in the late 1940s was characterized by a network of high-altitude ranches and recreational retreats. The area south of Mount Big Chief served as a rugged corridor where the Gold Camp Road winds past established outposts like Rosemont and Broadmoor Lodge. These settlements, along with the Penrose-Rosemont Reservoir, reflect the early 20th-century development of the region for tourism and water management.

Further south, the terrain is marked by smaller, secluded operations such as Elk Ranch, Emerald Valley Ranch, and the Emerald Valley Boys Camp. The map clearly delineates the complex drainage systems of Little Fountain Creek and Turkey Creek, which carved deep valleys around peaks like Sugarloaf Mountain and St Peters Dome. The presence of small sites like Duffield and Wild Rose Camp near the northern border hints at the area's legacy of prospecting and seasonal habitation.