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1955 Map of Ophir

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Ophir
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

High-altitude mining operations define the landscape of the San Juan Mountains in the mid-1950s. The settlement of Ophir serves as a central hub, situated along the Howard Fork and near the Ophir PO. The complex infrastructure required for deep-earth extraction is evident in the numerous shafts and tunnels listed, including the Carbonero Mine, Gold King Mine, and Suffolk Mine. Nearby, the Ophir Loop and the Ophir Loop Sch mark the site of a critical railroad engineering feat that allowed trains to gain elevation in the narrow valley.

The terrain is divided between the Uncompahgre National Forest and San Juan National Forest, with the boundary crossing high ridges near Ophir Pass. Glacial basins like Bridal Veil Basin and Ice Lake Basin dominate the hydrology of the area, feeding tributaries such as Waterfall Creek and South Fork Mineral Creek. Peaks such as U S Grant Peak and Vermilion Peak surround these basins, highlighting the extreme topography that both challenged and rewarded early prospectors.