1964 Map of Beaver Park

About this map

The Uncompahgre National Forest dominates this mid-1960s landscape, where high-altitude plateaus like Beaver Mesa drop sharply into the steep drainage of Beaver Canyon. The map reveals a complex water management system essential for this arid high country, featuring the Gurley Ditch, Old Nelson Ditch, and the West Beaver Highline Ditch winding across the contours. Human presence is sparse and functional, marked by seasonal locations such as Taylor Camp and Marie Scott Camp, alongside the Lone Cone Guard Station in the south. The terrain is characterized by the confluence of numerous forks, including East Beaver Creek and Middle Beaver Creek, which gather in the park before flowing north. For those tracing the history of land use in San Miguel County, the map provides exact locations for cattle-era infrastructure like the Beef Trail Road and a Corral near Galloway Creek.