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2016 Map of West Fork Lake

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of West Fork Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The Continental Divide forms a serpentine boundary across this high-elevation landscape, where the Routt National Forest straddles the border of Routt and Jackson Counties. This survey of the Sierra Madre range highlights a dense network of high-country trails and waterways, including the headwaters of the Encampment River and its western fork. The presence of remote mountain basins like West Fork Meadows, Big Red Park, and Ryan Park suggests a history of seasonal grazing and timber access, supported by an extensive system of tracks such as the Manzanares Trail and the Whiskey Creek Trail.

Hydrological features are central to the area's character, with West Fork Lake, Manzanares Lake, and the Sanchez Lakes serving as landmarks within the high basins. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail winds through the western portion of the sheet, tracing the heights above the Middle Fork Little Snake River. The terrain's complexity is further evidenced by landmarks like Black Mountain and various creek systems, including Silver City Cr and Trail Creek, which define the drainage patterns on either side of the divide.