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1970 Map of Vail Pass

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Vail Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

Eagles Nest Wilderness and the Gore Range dominate this high-altitude landscape along the boundary of Eagle and Summit counties. Mapped just as Interstate 70 was transforming mountain travel, the survey shows the modern highway infrastructure alongside older high-country routes like Shrine Pass Road and the Colorado Trail. A notable industrial detail is the Tenmile Pipeline, which follows the southern drainage of Tenmile Creek, while a Runaway Truck Ramp on the descent from Vail Pass highlights the engineering challenges of the era.

The map preserves several small-scale mining signatures such as the Prospect and various unnamed mines near Wichita Mountain. Alpine hydrology is captured in detail, from the secluded Wheeler Lakes and Uneva Lake to the engineered Curtain Ponds and Officers Gulch Pond. The intersection of protected lands, including the Arapaho National Forest and White River National Forest, illustrates the mid-century management of this critical Colorado watershed.