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2022 Map of Mount Champion

Name: 2022 Topographic Map of Mount Champion
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2022
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2022

About this map

The Continental Divide serves as the literal and metaphorical backbone of this high-altitude landscape, carving a jagged boundary between the White River National Forest and San Isabel National Forest. This section of the Sawatch Range is defined by a dense network of glacial basins and peaks, including Twining Peak, Mt Champion, and Geissler Mtn. The hydrology is particularly striking, with the headwaters of the Roaring Fork River and Fryingpan River originating in these heights.

Modern water management is evident through engineering features like the Charles H Boustead Tunnel and Chapman Tunnel, which redirect flows beneath the massive ridges of the Williams Mountains. For the backcountry researcher, the map traces a complex system of historic passages, such as the South Fork Pass and the Lost Man Loop Trl, which connect high-altitude water bodies like Independence Lake and Linkins Lake. These paths follow the same natural corridors used for generations to navigate the steep transitions of the Pitkin and Lake County border.