2022 Map of Black Ridge

About this map

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park dominates the southern reaches of this landscape, where the deeply carved terrain of the Gunnison River meets the high elevations of Black Ridge. The map illustrates a complex network of resource management and pastoral use, evidenced by the irrigation infrastructure of the Grand View Ditch and Fruitland Mesa Ditch. These systems support the flatter expanses of Fruitland Mesa, contrasting with the steep, broken country of Red Canyon and Long Gulch. Remote outposts and seasonal sites like Pitts Meadow and Pleasant Park suggest a history of grazing and high-country habitation. Traces of indigenous and early travel are preserved in routes such as the Ute Tri, while the presence of Green Mountain Reservoir Number 1 indicates the ongoing importance of water storage in this arid environment at the boundary of Delta and Montrose counties.