1960 Map of Atkinson Creek

About this map

The Uncompahgre National Forest dominates this landscape on the boundary of Mesa and Montrose Counties, where the dramatic topography of the Atkinson Breaks meets the San Miguel River valley. This 1960 revision documents the area's mid-century character, notably marked by Airstrips positioned on Spring Creek Mesa, reflecting the era's reliance on small aircraft for accessing these high mesa tops. The map details a rugged drainage system including Big Atkinson Creek and Bull Draw, which carve through the high plateaus of Little Atkinson Mesa and East Mesa. While largely a wilderness of canyons and bluffs, the presence of Spring Creek Ranch and the edge of Uravan show the scattered human footprint amidst natural features like Gypsum Bluff and Blue Springs.