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1964 Map of Baldy Mountain

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Baldy Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The San Juan National Forest high country in southwestern Colorado is defined here by a network of springs, pack trails, and high-altitude mining claims. A rugged landscape of ridges and basins, the area around Baldy Mountain was actively worked by miners mid-century, as evidenced by the Medicine Mine, Columbine Mine, and the Shamrock Mines. The distribution of dozens of individual water sources, such as Moonlick Spring No 1 and Uncle Charlie Spring, highlights the critical importance of reliable water for livestock and mineral extraction in this arid terrain.

Transit through the region followed established routes like the Notch Road and various jeep trails that connected isolated features like Shamrock Ranch and Arbogast Flats to the lower elevations. The map reveals a working forest where grazing and mining interests converged, marked by labels for a Stock Driveway and a Radio Tower atop one of the southern peaks. These details offer a precise view of the mid-1960s land use before later developments altered the character of the La Plata and Archuleta county line.