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2013 Map of Whale Hill

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Whale Hill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Alder and the Davidson Ranch sit at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, marking the eastern edge of the high-altitude terrain within the Rio Grande National Forest. This 2013 survey details a landscape defined by significant peaks and deep drainages, including Whale Hill, Elkhorn Peak, and Hayden Peak. The area is a network of historic gulches such as Rawley Gulch, Chloride Gulch, and Express Gulch, which speak to the region's legacy of prospecting and resource extraction.

Modern management of the land is visible through the designated trail systems, including the Kelly Creek Trail 923, Cottonwood Creek Trail 924, and Elk Horn Trail 925. These routes traverse the complex topography between Mount Manitou and Center Ridge. Water resources are channeled through steep-sided valleys by Spring Creek and Peterson Creek, eventually feeding into the larger San Luis Creek drainage to the east.