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2001 Map of West Baldy

Name: 2001 Topographic Map of West Baldy
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2005
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2005

About this map

Gunnison National Forest and Rio Grande National Forest converge at the high ridgelines of Saguache County in this 2001 revision of a mid-century survey. The terrain is defined by dramatic peaks and deep gulches, including West Baldy and Middle Baldy, which overlook a complex network of drainage creeks such as Needle Creek and Razor Creek. This high-altitude landscape preserves evidence of both transient labor and more permanent markers of human presence, from the remote Shortys Cabin in the south to the Hughes Mine Grave near Hughes Mine in the central western portion of the sheet.

A system of historic routes and modern resource management marks the land, including the Continental Divide Scenic Trail and the Ranger Trail. These paths follow the natural geography of the Divide, while infrastructure like the Needle Creek Reservoir and a prominent pipeline corridor cutting through the southwestern corner illustrate how the wilderness has been utilized for water and energy transport. Smaller seasonal sites like Cow Camp Spring and the settlement at Lujan highlight the area's history of high-country grazing and mining.