1982 Map of Mount Yale

About this map

The Continental Divide winds along the crest of the high Sawatch Range in this early 1980s survey, marking the boundary between the Gunnison and San Isabel National Forests. Dominated by the soaring peak of Mount Yale, the landscape is a complex network of glacial cirques and high-altitude drainage systems including North Fork Cottonwood Creek, Middle Cottonwood Creek, and South Cottonwood Creek. Human activity is primarily centered on recreation and resource extraction, with established sites like the Collegiate Peaks Campground and various mines dotting the gulches. Mining history is preserved in labels for the Gladstone Mine and Holywater Mine near the Holywater Beaver Ponds. A system of pack trails and jeep trails provides access to remote alpine basins such as those containing Hartenstein Lake and Kroenke Lake, while Cottonwood Lake serves as a more accessible hub with a dedicated Picnic Area.