2013 Map of Palomino Mountain

About this map

The Continental Divide forms a jagged natural boundary across this high-elevation landscape in Mineral County, separating the Rio Grande National Forest from the San Juan National Forest. At the heart of the terrain, Palomino Mountain and Piedra Peak anchor a network of headwaters, including the Middle Fork Piedra River and the E Fork Piedra River. This 2013 survey illustrates a wilderness primarily accessible by a complex system of established paths such as the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail NST and the Middle Creek Trail 809. Small alpine water bodies, notably Window Lake and Monument Lake, are tucked into the high basins. The geography here is defined by significant relief, with Porphyry Gulch and Dark Canyon cutting through the slopes of Sugarloaf Mountain and Toner Mountain, providing a detailed view of the drainage patterns along the divide.