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1982 Map of Saguache

Name: 1982 Topographic Map of Saguache
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

The Continental Divide snake-like through the center of this region, separating the high headwaters of the Rio Grande from the western drainages of the Gunnison National Forest. In the early 1980s, this landscape remained a critical intersection of mining history and high-altitude ranching, centered on the town of Saguache. To the northeast, the Sawatch Range towers over the valley, while the Cochetopa Hills bridge the gap between the major wilderness areas.

Legacy mining operations such as the Rawley Mine and Yukon Mine near Bonanza indicate the area's industrial past, while the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad corridor follows the northern edge near Sargents. The eastern flats around Villa Grove and San Luis Creek provide a sharp contrast to the steep topography of the La Garita Mountains, illustrating the dramatic transition from the San Luis Valley floor to some of Colorado's most significant peaks, including Mount Ouray and Antora Peak.