2013 Map of Bayfield

About this map

Bayfield serves as the focal point of this La Plata County survey, where the valley floor of the Los Pinos River meets the expansive southern reaches of the San Juan National Forest. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of irrigation systems developed to support high-altitude agriculture, including the Pine River Bayfield Ditch, King Consolidated Ditch, and Morrison Consolidated Ditch. These waterways carve through the terrain between prominent landmarks like Arrowhead Hill and Shellhammer Ridge, illustrating the complex engineering required to divert water from the river to the surrounding benches. Higher elevations are marked by narrow passages such as Durant Gap and Dunham Gap, while canyons like Reservoir Canyon and Ritter Canyon cut into the forested plateaus to the east. Genealogists may find interest in the location of the Bayfield Cem, positioned just north of the town center near Co RD 501.