1955 Map of Black Ridge

About this map

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison dominates this mid-century western Colorado landscape, where the Gunnison River carves deep into the plateau near the boundary of Delta and Montrose Counties. The terrain is defined by dramatic elevation changes, transitioning from the high agricultural reaches of Fruitland Mesa and Scenic Mesa to the intricate drainages of Red Canyon and Lime Kiln Gulch. This 1955 survey captures the area before modern infrastructure expanded, showing a network of primitive Jeep Trails and remote water features such as Green Mountain Reservoir No 1. The map reveals the relationship between the rugged central Black Ridge and more accessible plateaus like Pleasant Park, illustrating the geographic barriers that shaped local transport and land use between the Smith Fork and the river gorge.