1965 Map of West Elk Peak

About this map

West Elk Peak dominates this high-altitude landscape within the West Elk Wilderness, a region characterized by dramatic geological formations and remote alpine basins. Surveyed in the mid-1960s, the map reveals a network of high-country pathways such as the Mill-Castle Trail and the Steuben Trail, which provided the primary means of traversal through the Gunnison National Forest before more modern infrastructure reached these heights. Notable landmarks like the spire-like rocks of The Castles and the high waters of Rainbow Lake serve as primary orientation points for those navigating the transition between Soap Basin and West Elk Basin. The absence of roads underscores the area's status as a protected wilderness, where natural drainages like Castle Creek and Willow Creek dictate the movement of travelers through passes such as Storm Pass.