2013 Map of Valley View Hot Springs

About this map

Valley View Hot Springs is the focal point of this high-elevation landscape on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo Range. The terrain is defined by a series of dramatic drainages, including Orient Canyon, Hot Springs Canyon, and Black Canyon, all descending from the heights of the Rio Grande National Forest and San Isabel National Forest. This 2013 survey illustrates the complex transition from mountain peaks like Cottonwood Peak down to the valley floor, where human activity is marked by an intricate trail system such as the Garner Trail 752 and the Major Trail 751. Evidence of early water management and settlement appears in the lowlands through features like the Cotton Cr Ditch and the Cotton Creek Cem, reflecting the area's agricultural and communal history at the edge of the great Colorado basins.