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1953 Map of Barras Springs

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

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The Oregon Trail cuts through this high desert terrain, following the path of the Sweetwater River in a region defined by historical western migration. Traces of early frontier life appear at St Marys Station (Historic) and the Ellis Ranch, reflecting the era when water sources were the primary drivers of settlement. The landscape is a network of arid drainages and vital water points, including the namesake Barras Springs and Lower Ladysmith Spring.

Resource development is evidenced by early irrigation projects like Brown DITCH and Arnold Ditch No 1, which diverted water from the river to the surrounding plains. To the south, the topography rises toward North Bear Mountain, where deep incisions like Coyote Gulch and Weasel Draw reveal the complex drainage patterns of the Fremont County interior. The presence of an Oil Well (Inactive) near the river further marks the shift toward industrial exploration in the mid-20th century.