2019 Map of Baxter Pass

About this map

Atchee sits as a primary point of interest in this high-altitude landscape of Garfield County, marking a location historically tied to the treacherous mountain crossings of western Colorado. The map centers on the formidable Baxter Pass, where the drainage divide separates the waters of Bitter Creek and W Salt Cr. A complex network of steep drainages, including Railroad Canyon and Wagon Canyon, suggests the difficulty of early transportation through this corridor. Evidence of natural water sources like Columbine Spring and the Baxter Reservoir highlight the necessity of water management in this arid, dissected terrain. The land is heavily carved by numerous gulches, such as Sawmill Gulch and Buttermilk Canyon, while the dramatic Hells Hole Canyon terminates in the southeast, illustrating the deeply eroded geology of the Book Cliffs region.