1955 Map of Mount Ethel

About this map

Mount Ethel and the Continental Divide anchor this high-elevation study of the Park Range in the mid-1950s. The landscape is defined by its glacial hydrology, featuring a dense network of alpine basins such as Wolverine Basin and numerous high-country water bodies including Rainbow Lake, Big Creek Lake, and the remote Lake of the Crags. The map documents a primitive transportation network consisting primarily of foot and pack trails, notably the Wyoming Trail and Lost Ranger Trail, which navigate the steep transition between the Routt National Forest and the neighboring county line. This survey captures the wilderness character of the region before modern recreational development, marking the headwaters of the South Fork Elk River and the various forks of Mad Creek that drain these granite peaks.