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1953 Map of Aspen Basin

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Aspen Basin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

Santa Fe National Forest encompasses this high-altitude landscape where the headwaters of the Santa Fe River and Rio Nambe descend from the peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The 1953 field check documents a wilderness character defined by early recreational and ranching outposts, including Rancho Viejo in the north and the Sierra Lodge near the Aspen Basin recreation area. This period shows a complex network of pack routes like the Windsor Trail and Borrego Trail connecting high alpine features such as Santa Fe Baldy and Katherine Lake.

The southern portion of the sheet is marked by the historical Juan de Gabaldon Grant, while the northwestern corner borders the Nambe Indian Reservation Boundary. These overlapping land divisions, including the Forest Boundary Grant Boundary, illustrate the transition from traditional land grants to federal management. Small, remote structures such as Aspen Ranch and Aspen Cabin appear along En Medio creek, providing a record of mid-century human presence in these secluded canyons.