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2001 Map of Platoro

Name: 2001 Topographic Map of Platoro
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2005
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2005

About this map

The high mountain settlement of Platoro serves as the focal point for this high-elevation Colorado survey, situated at the upper reaches of the Conejos River. The landscape is dominated by the Platoro Reservoir, which regulates the river's flow through the Rio Grande National Forest. Evidence of the area's prospecting history is found on the slopes of Forest King Mountain and at the Mammoth Revenue Mine, reflecting the mineral pursuits that characterized the San Juan Mountains.

South of the reservoir, the terrain rises into the South San Juan Wilderness, marked by the towering Conejos Peak. This area is a network of backcountry routes, including the Tobacco Lake Trail and the Rincon Trail, which follow deep drainages like Cañon Diablo and Rincon Canyon. The map preserves the alignment of the Stock Driveway, a relic of the region's ranching heritage where livestock were moved to high summer pastures.