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1957 Map of Spar City

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Spar City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Spar City stands as the primary namesake settlement in this high-altitude landscape of the San Juan Mountains, situated near the headwaters of Lime Creek. The area's mid-century character is defined by a legacy of resource extraction and rugged recreation, evidenced by the Emma Mine and the Denver Tunnel located beneath Monument Peak. This 1950s survey captures the region as it transitioned from a mining-focused past to a destination for mountain travelers, with the Columbine Campground and Wagon Wheel Ranch providing access to the sprawling wilderness of the Rio Grande National Forest and San Juan National Forest.

The complex drainage network is anchored by the Rio Grande in the northeast, fed by numerous high-country sources such as Lake Humphreys and Goose Creek. The crest of the Continental Divide zigzags across the southern portion of the sheet, marking the physical boundary between watersheds. Historic transit is mapped through a series of primitive routes, including the Elliot Pack Trail and the Highline Trail, which navigate between prominent summits like South River Peak and Beautiful Mountain.