Loading map...

1964 Map of Snowdon Peak

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Snowdon Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

The Denver and Rio Grande Western River railroad corridor defines the eastern canyon of this high-altitude landscape, providing a vital transport link through the San Juan National Forest in the mid-1960s. The small settlement at Needleton stands as a focal point for the river valley, supported by infrastructure like the Needleton Water Tank and a separate Watertank located further up Watertank Canyon. These features reflect the operational requirements of rail travel through the demanding terrain of the San Juan Mountains.

To the west, the topography is dominated by massive peaks including Snowdon Peak, Twilight Peak, and the jagged Grenadier Range. High mountain lakes such as Molas Lake and Andrews Lake sit near Molas Pass, where Highway 550 and Roadside Park provide accessible points into the wilderness. The map details a network of drainage systems like Tenmile Creek and Noname Creek, illustrating the complex hydrology of the Needle Mountains.