1963 Map of Wetterhorn Peak

About this map

Uncompahgre National Forest spans this high-elevation landscape, where the jagged skyline is defined by Wetterhorn Peak and Precipice Peak. In the early 1960s, this area of the San Juan Mountains remained a primitive frontier for mining and exploration, marked by a network of steep trails and the occasional Mine or Prospect. The map documents a transition in mountain access, showing traditional pack routes like the Cow Creek Trail alongside newer motorized paths including the Henson Creek Jeep Trail. The terrain drops from the sharp summits into alpine basins such as Wetterhorn Basin and Porphyry Basin, where glacial action has left distinctive features like American Lake. Along the Ouray Co Hinsdale Co line, the geography is characterized by deep drainages like Difficulty Creek and Wildhorse Creek, illustrating the complex watershed that feeds the E Fk Cimarron River and Henson Creek.