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2021 Map of Prospect Mountains

Name: 2021 Topographic Map of Prospect Mountains
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2021
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2021

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this high-altitude landscape of Sublette County, marking the hydrological crest of the region. The map preserves the pathways of westward expansion, most notably the Lander Cutoff Rd, which provided emigrants on the Oregon Trail a shorter route through the mountains. These historic thoroughfares, including the Lander Pinedale Stage Rd, follow the natural contours of the Prospect Mountains and traverse open basins like Rollins Bottom.

Water management is central to the area's character, evidenced by the Prospect Reservoir and the engineered path of the Elkhorn Ditch. Natural drainage patterns are defined by the winding Mitchell Slough and Little Mitchell Slough, which cut through the sagebrush-covered terrain. The presence of Alkali Draw suggests the mineral-rich, arid soil typical of these high plains, where early ranching and travel routes were dictated by the availability of water at features like Little Sandy Cr.