1964 Map of Banta Ridge

About this map

Banta Ridge and Rabbit Mountain dominate this landscape in northwestern Colorado, which is defined by a complex network of intermittent water management and energy infrastructure. The arid terrain relies on a series of catchments including Banta Flats Reservoir, Calvert Reservoir, and the tiered Lower Cottonwood Reservoir, Middle Cottonwood Reservoir, and Upper Cottonwood Reservoir along Cottonwood Creek. These water features appear alongside evidence of industrial exploration, specifically marked by Gas Wells, a Drill Hole, and a prominent Pipeline. Transportation through the Gillsonite Hills is limited to the Rangely Dragon Road and several secondary paths, including a marked Jeep Trail, reflecting the area's transition into an active energy-producing region during the mid-1960s.