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2019 Map of Pearl Pass

Name: 2019 Topographic Map of Pearl Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2019
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2019

About this map

The high alpine boundary between Pitkin Co and Gunnison Co defines this 2019 survey, centered on the historic Pearl Pass. This rugged high-altitude landscape is dominated by the Elk Mountains, where prominent summits like Pearl Mtn, Star Peak, and Taylor Peak reach deep into the White River National Forest and Gunnison National Forest. The map documents a complex network of seasonal routes and trails, including the Brush Creek Ski (Snow) path and the Block and Tackle trail, which reflect the modern recreational use of these traditional mountain corridors.

Water flows from the high basins via Brush Creek, Taylor River, and Cement Creek, carving through distinctive landforms such as Cumberland Basin and Eyre Basin. The topography here, marked by steep slopes around Carbonate Hill and Teocalli Ridge, showcases the transition from high-mountain ridges to the narrow creek valleys that have historically connected the mining and ranching districts of these two Colorado counties.