2022 Map of Wagon Wheel Gap

About this map

Wagon Wheel Gap serves as the focal point of this mountainous landscape where the Rio Grande winds through the southern reaches of the Rio Grande National Forest. The map illustrates the dramatic transition from the river valley to the high plateaus, marked by the striking Rio Grande Palisades and several high-altitude clearings such as Silver Park, Long Park, and Blue Park. A network of historic routes, including the Wheeler Trl and Farmers Creek Trl, suggests the area's long-standing importance for transalpine movement and forest management. The convergence of numerous drainages like Bellows Cr, Goose Creek, and McKinney Gulch defines the complex drainage pattern that has historically shaped both the geography and the accessibility of this corner of Mineral County.