2001 Map of Palomino Mountain

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this high-altitude landscape on the border of Mineral and Hinsdale counties, separating the drainage basins of the Rio Grande and San Juan National Forests. This 2001 revision, based on earlier surveys and updated imagery, centers on the protected reaches of the Weminuche Wilderness. The terrain is defined by prominent summits such as Palomino Mountain, Piedra Peak, and Sugarloaf Mountain, with the hydrological network of the Piedra River and its multiple forks feeding into alpine basins. Isolated water bodies like Monument Lake and Winslow Lake dot the interior, while a solitary Gaging Station on the river and the Pagosa Ranger District boundary indicate the managed nature of this wild land. The map serves as a detailed record of high-country topography before twenty-first-century environmental shifts, documenting trails like the Turkey Creek Trail and remote passes such as Puerto Blanco.