2022 Map of Mount Richthofen

About this map

The Continental Divide serves as the backbone of this high-altitude landscape where the headwaters of the Michigan River begin their descent. This 2022 survey documents a complex intersection of land management and hydrologic engineering at the border of Jackson and Grand counties. High alpine features like Nokhu Crags and Mt Richthofen dominate the skyline of the Never Summer Mountains, while the Grand Ditch represents a significant historical water diversion effort cut into the steep mountain slopes. The map traces a transition between three major protected areas: Routt National Forest, Arapaho National Forest, and Rocky Mountain National Park. Researchers can follow established routes such as the Never Summer Trl and Jack Creek Trl that link remote high-country basins like those containing Lake of the Clouds and Parika Lake.