2016 Map of Rock Spring Gulch

About this map

The Moffat and Routt County line bisects this high-elevation landscape, where deep drainages and rural access roads define the geography north of the Yampa River. The northern portion is characterized by a complex network of waterways, including Elkhead Creek and the Dry Fork Elkhead Creek, which feed into the Elk Head Reservoir. This reservoir serves as a focal point for the surrounding terrain, with recreation-focused routes like the Lake View Loop and N End Trail skirting its shores. The nomenclature of the many gulches across the sheet—such as Jimmy Dunn Gulch, Maynard Gulch, and Wadell Gulch—often reflects the family names of early ranchers and settlers in this part of Northwest Colorado. Modern rural living is evidenced by named access routes like Homesteader Ln and McGuire Ln, which traverse the high ground between Rock Spring Gulch and Cary Gulch.