Loading map...

1980 Map of Poncha Pass

Name: 1980 Topographic Map of Poncha Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

Poncha Pass serves as the central focal point of this 1980 survey, marking the topographic divide between the San Isabel National Forest and Rio Grande National Forest. The landscape is defined by the high-altitude transit routes that have historically connected the Arkansas Valley to the San Luis Valley, most notably an Old Railroad Grade and the route toward Marshall Pass. These corridors parallel Poncha Creek, tracing the paths once vital to the region's mountain rail system.

Industrial activity is scattered throughout the drainages of Sand Gulch and Sawmill Gulch, where several mines and prospects indicate the area's geological importance. To the north, Poncha Hot Springs and Mears Junction represent the primary points of settlement, while peaks such as Cleveland Mountain and Methodist Mountain frame the horizon. The presence of numerous named springs, including Morphys Hole Springs and Wicker Spring, highlights the critical water sources in this high-elevation mountain environment.