Headwaters of the Gunnison River falls under the categories of Drainages of Colorado, Elk Mountains. The Gunnison River is made up of three major rivers with their headwaters and tributaries in the Elk Mountains and various Wilderness Areas of the Gunnison National Forest. The primary data base of reference will be Gunnison Basin Public Lands a Forest Service Series Map. Colorado, 2008. United States Department of Agriculture.
Slate River
Understanding the tributaries of the Slate River begins in the historic Town of Crested Butte. These tributaries join the Slate River from several land mass divisions or ridges separating the West Elk Mountains, Raggeds Wilderness Area and the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness Area. The headwaters of Slate River begin on the slopes of Treasury Mountain south southeast of the peak. This Peak rises to an elevation of 13,462 feet and forms a ridge to the south called Ruby Range. Purple Mountain rises to an elevation of 12,856 feet and between these two peaks the Yule Pass is nestled within the ridge and separates Raggeds Wilderness Area from the Slate River drainage. Following this ridge south are Augusta Mountain at an elevation of 12,559 feet and Richmond Mountain at an elevation of 12,501 feet. Between these two peaks lie Angel Pass and Daisey Pass leading west into the Poverty Gulch drainage which joins the Slate River at the ghost town of Pittsburg. Following the Ruby Range south Oh Be Joyfull Peak and Afley Peak (12,646 feet) rise north of Mount Owen at an elevation of 13,058 feet. This area drains Oh Be Joyfull Creek with its many sources into the Wolverine Basin northeast of Nichols Lake. Ruby Peak at an elevation of 12,644 feet and east southeast of Ruby Peak, Kebler Pass sits on a ridge separating Coal Creek drainage from headwaters forming Lake Irwin and the Ruby Anthrocite Creek drainage to the west. This Coal Creek enters the Town of Crested Butte on the west side and flows through town joining the Slate River north of the townsite. The Slate River flows east of town and southeast to Crested Butte South community and crosses Hwy 135 continueing along the old railroad grade southeast toward the confluence of East River just above Cement Creek.
To the south east of Treasury Mountain, Cinnamon Mountain rises to an elevation of 12,293 feet. To the east of Cinnamon Mountain, Mount Baldy rises to an elevation of 12,805 feet forming Paradise Basin, a pass between the Sopris Ranger District and the Gunnison Ranger District. Northeast of Mount Baldy, Mount Bellview rises to an elevation of 12,519 feet, and Schofield Pass separates Sopris and Gunnison Ranger Districts. Emerald Lake rests on the southern slope of Schofield Pass and forms the headwaters of the East River discussed in the next section.
East River
North northeast of Mount Bellview is Belleview Mountain at an elevation of 13,233 feet. West Maroon Pass is nestled on the ridge between these two similar sounding peaks and separate Sopris and Aspen Ranger Districts. East from Maroon Pass Gunnison Ranger district continues through the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness Area to East Maroon Pass and Copper Lake which is the headwaters of Copper Creek. At West Maroon Pass Rustler Gulch drains to the south and joins East River just below Quigley Creek which drains Mount Baldy to the east; and above Rock Creek which drains Paradise Basin south of Mount Baldy. Avery Peak at an elevation of 12,653 feet these tributaries from Copper Creek drainage with Judd Falls just above the Town of Gothic east of Gothic Peak at an elevation of 12,625 feet. East River flows to the southeast from Gothic and east of Snodgraass Mountain at an elevation of 11,145 feet. Perry Creek drains White Peak at an elevation of 13,401 feet and joins East River north of Mt. Crested Butte Ski Area. Dry Basin and Deer Creek join the East River just above Brush Creek Cow Camp east of Crested Butte Peak at an elevation of 12,162 feet.
East of East Maroon Pass,the ridge separating Aspen and Gunnison Ranger Districts continue with Copper Pass, Triangle Pass and Coffeepot Pass. To the east northeast Castle Peak towers at an elevation of 14,265 feet forming the conundrum basin to the north and Cumberland Basin to the south. Teocali Mountain to the south at an elevation of 13,208 feet separates West Brush Creek and Middle Brush Creek which has its headwaters at Twin Lakes, Cumberland Basin and Pearl Mountain at an elevation of 13,362 feet. East Brush Creek drains Pearl Pass on the east slope of Pearl Mountain and Star Peak at an elevation of 13,521 feet. The waters of the Brush Creek feed the East River which continues below Brush Creek Cow Camp to the Crested Butte Airport where Ferris Creek joins the East River which continues to its junction with the Slate River just above County Road 740 and Cement Creek. Cement Creek drains a long valley from Crystal Peak at an elevation of 12,777 feet, and Mount Tilden to the east and Hunters Hill at an elevation of 12,678 feet, and Italian Mountain. The East River then continues its course along Hwy 135 toward Almont being joined by drainages of Red Mountain at an elevation of 11,653 feet to the west and Round Mountain at an elevation of 10,878 feet to the east. Jack's Cabin is in the valley draining Judy Peak at an elevation of 12,200 feet and the Roaring Judy which enters the East River at the Roaring Judy State Wildlife Area and Alkali Creek draining from the west. East River continues south to the Community of Almont and the confluence of the Taylor River.
Taylor River
Headwaters of the Gunnison River falls under the categories of Drainages of Colorado, Elk Mountains. The Gunnison River is made up of three major rivers with their headwaters and tributaries in the Elk Mountains and various Wilderness Areas of the Gunnison National Forest. The primary data base of reference will be Gunnison Basin Public Lands a Forest Service Series Map. Colorado, 2008. United States Department of Agriculture.
Slate River
Understanding the tributaries of the Slate River begins in the historic Town of Crested Butte. These tributaries join the Slate River from several land mass divisions or ridges separating the West Elk Mountains, Raggeds Wilderness Area and the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness Area. The headwaters of Slate River begin on the slopes of Treasury Mountain south southeast of the peak. This Peak rises to an elevation of 13,462 feet and forms a ridge to the south called Ruby Range. Purple Mountain rises to an elevation of 12,856 feet and between these two peaks the Yule Pass is nestled within the ridge and separates Raggeds Wilderness Area from the Slate River drainage. Following this ridge south are Augusta Mountain at an elevation of 12,559 feet and Richmond Mountain at an elevation of 12,501 feet. Between these two peaks lie Angel Pass and Daisey Pass leading west into the Poverty Gulch drainage which joins the Slate River at the ghost town of Pittsburg. Following the Ruby Range south Oh Be Joyfull Peak and Afley Peak (12,646 feet) rise north of Mount Owen at an elevation of 13,058 feet. This area drains Oh Be Joyfull Creek with its many sources into the Wolverine Basin northeast of Nichols Lake. Ruby Peak at an elevation of 12,644 feet and east southeast of Ruby Peak, Kebler Pass sits on a ridge separating Coal Creek drainage from headwaters forming Lake Irwin and the Ruby Anthrocite Creek drainage to the west. This Coal Creek enters the Town of Crested Butte on the west side and flows through town joining the Slate River north of the townsite. The Slate River flows east of town and southeast to Crested Butte South community and crosses Hwy 135 continueing along the old railroad grade southeast toward the confluence of East River just above Cement Creek.
To the south east of Treasury Mountain, Cinnamon Mountain rises to an elevation of 12,293 feet. To the east of Cinnamon Mountain, Mount Baldy rises to an elevation of 12,805 feet forming Paradise Basin, a pass between the Sopris Ranger District and the Gunnison Ranger District. Northeast of Mount Baldy, Mount Bellview rises to an elevation of 12,519 feet, and Schofield Pass separates Sopris and Gunnison Ranger Districts. Emerald Lake rests on the southern slope of Schofield Pass and forms the headwaters of the East River discussed in the next section.
East River
North northeast of Mount Bellview is Belleview Mountain at an elevation of 13,233 feet. West Maroon Pass is nestled on the ridge between these two similar sounding peaks and separate Sopris and Aspen Ranger Districts. East from Maroon Pass Gunnison Ranger district continues through the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness Area to East Maroon Pass and Copper Lake which is the headwaters of Copper Creek. At West Maroon Pass Rustler Gulch drains to the south and joins East River just below Quigley Creek which drains Mount Baldy to the east; and above Rock Creek which drains Paradise Basin south of Mount Baldy. Avery Peak at an elevation of 12,653 feet these tributaries from Copper Creek drainage with Judd Falls just above the Town of Gothic east of Gothic Peak at an elevation of 12,625 feet. East River flows to the southeast from Gothic and east of Snodgraass Mountain at an elevation of 11,145 feet. Perry Creek drains White Peak at an elevation of 13,401 feet and joins East River north of Mt. Crested Butte Ski Area. Dry Basin and Deer Creek join the East River just above Brush Creek Cow Camp east of Crested Butte Peak at an elevation of 12,162 feet.
East of East Maroon Pass,the ridge separating Aspen and Gunnison Ranger Districts continue with Copper Pass, Triangle Pass and Coffeepot Pass. To the east northeast Castle Peak towers at an elevation of 14,265 feet forming the conundrum basin to the north and Cumberland Basin to the south. Teocali Mountain to the south at an elevation of 13,208 feet separates West Brush Creek and Middle Brush Creek which has its headwaters at Twin Lakes, Cumberland Basin and Pearl Mountain at an elevation of 13,362 feet. East Brush Creek drains Pearl Pass on the east slope of Pearl Mountain and Star Peak at an elevation of 13,521 feet. The waters of the Brush Creek feed the East River which continues below Brush Creek Cow Camp to the Crested Butte Airport where Ferris Creek joins the East River which continues to its junction with the Slate River just above County Road 740 and Cement Creek. Cement Creek drains a long valley from Crystal Peak at an elevation of 12,777 feet, and Mount Tilden to the east and Hunters Hill at an elevation of 12,678 feet, and Italian Mountain. The East River then continues its course along Hwy 135 toward Almont being joined by drainages of Red Mountain at an elevation of 11,653 feet to the west and Round Mountain at an elevation of 10,878 feet to the east. Jack's Cabin is in the valley draining Judy Peak at an elevation of 12,200 feet and the Roaring Judy which enters the East River at the Roaring Judy State Wildlife Area and Alkali Creek draining from the west. East River continues south to the Community of Almont and the confluence of the Taylor River.