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2023 Map of Wheeler Peak

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Wheeler Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Wheeler Peak and the surrounding high-altitude terrain of the Taos Mountains dominate this contemporary survey of New Mexico's northern highlands. The landscape is defined by the headwaters of several major waterways, including the Rio Hondo, the Rio Lucero, and the East Fork Red River. Nestled at the base of these massive peaks, the settlement at Taos Ski Valley and the area of Twining represent the primary points of human habitation and commerce within a region otherwise characterized by protected wilderness.

Extensive trail networks, such as the Wheeler Peak Trl and the Long Canyon Trl, crisscross the Wheeler Peak Wilderness, linking numerous alpine water bodies like Williams Lake, Lost Lake, and Blue Lake. The presence of Mt Walter, Simpson Peak, and Old Mike Peak highlights a geography focused on extreme elevation and the preservation of natural watersheds along the boundary of Taos County and Colfax County.