THE MONTEZUMA NATIONAL FOREST was established by proclamation of
President Theodore Roosevelt on June 15, 1905. Its gross area is 837,228
acres, of which 737,440 acres are Government land.
[Illustration: F-376865
OPHIR NEEDLES]
The topography of the forest varies from the extremely rugged San Miguel
Range in the north and the rough but slightly lower La Plata Range on
the east, to the high mesas of the southwestern part. The Dolores River
flows southwest through the eastern part of the forest. Near the town of
Dolores the river makes an abrupt turn to the north, and the west
boundary of the forest follows to a greater or less degree the Dolores
River Valley. Throughout the forest innumerable streams and canyons lead
down from the San Miguel and La Plata Ranges and the Dolores Plateau.
The San Miguel Range extends westward through the north end of the
forest. Lizard Head Peak (13,156 feet), Sunshine Mountain, Lone Cone,
Wilson, and Dolores Peaks, and Mount Wilson (14,250 feet) are
outstanding topographical features.