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1959 Map of Bristol Head

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Bristol Head
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Powderhorn Old Stage Sta (Ruins) and the San Juan Ranch (Old Stage Sta) anchor this 1959 study of the high-altitude terrain where the Gunnison National Forest meets the Rio Grande National Forest. The map documents a critical hydrologic and transport corridor along the Continental Divide, featuring the dramatic drop of North Clear Creek Falls and the expansive Snow Mesa.

Water management and recreation are central to the landscape, evidenced by the Continental Reservoir, Santa Maria Reservoir, and several high alpine lakes like Brown Lakes and Hermit Lakes. High-country travel is marked by the presence of Slumgullion Pass and Spring Creek Pass, while the southern portion of the sheet follows the upper reaches of the Rio Grande. The mix of old stage stations and the Bristol View Ranger Station illustrates the area's transition from frontier transit routes to managed federal wilderness and forest lands.