2011 Map of Palomino Mountain

About this map

Palomino Mountain and the surrounding high country of Mineral County define this high-altitude landscape. The area is a complex network of drainage basins, where the Middle Fork Piedra River and East Fork Piedra River originate from the runoff of prominent peaks like Piedra Peak and Sugarloaf Mountain. This 2011 survey captures the hydrological importance of the region, documenting alpine water bodies such as Monument Lake and Window Lake amidst steep vertical relief. Human presence is limited to narrow corridors such as Usfs-RD 523, while natural features like Porphyry Gulch and Dark Canyon illustrate the deep erosion patterns characteristic of the San Juan range. The mapping of Piedra Pass and Puerto Blanco highlights critical transit points through the Continental Divide terrain.