2019 Map of Placita

About this map

Coal Basin and its industrial legacy define the northern reaches of this Pitkin County landscape, where the Coal Basin Spur and Mine No. 4 intersect with the steep terrain of the White River National Forest. The geography is dominated by dramatic elevation changes, notably along Huntsman Ridge and the prominent Huntsman Mtn. To the south, the settlement of Placita sits along the Crystal River, a corridor marked by the Placita River Road and proximity to Hayes Creek Falls. The map details a transition from resource extraction in the high country to the river-valley connections at McClure Pass. High-altitude features like Island Lake and the open grounds of Dexter Park are mapped alongside numerous drainages such as Bear Cr and Dutch Cr, illustrating the complex hydrology that feeds the valley below.