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1964 Map of Snowdon Peak

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Snowdon Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The Animas River corridor serves as the primary artery through this high-altitude landscape, carved between the massive Needle Mountains and the Grenadier Range. Running parallel to the river's course is the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, which facilitates access to the remote settlement of Needleton. This location, centered around the Needleton Water Tank, illustrates the essential infrastructure required for steam-powered rail travel through the deep river canyons of the San Juan National Forest.

Elevated terrain features prominently in the north, where Molas Pass and Molas Lake mark the transition toward the high peaks. The topography is defined by sharp summits such as Snowdon Peak, Mount Garfield, and the triple peaks of North Twilight, Twilight Peak, and South Twilight. These landmarks, along with high-elevation basins like Elk Park and Crater Lake, demonstrate the complex drainage patterns of Molas Creek and Tenmile Creek feeding into the river system below.