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1963 Map of Buckhorn Lakes

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Buckhorn Lakes
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The Cimarron Ridge dominates the eastern landscape of this 1963 survey, forming a dramatic natural boundary between Ouray, Montrose, and Gunnison counties. The area is characterized by high-elevation water systems, including Buckhorn Lakes, Julien Lakes, and Onion Lakes, which feed the drainages of Beaton Creek and Onion Creek. Evidence of early 20th-century land use appears at the Comerer Ranch and the remote Julien Cabin, while a solitary Mine near the ridge suggests the historical search for mineral wealth in these peaks.

Conservation efforts are evident through the extensive Billy Creek State Wildlife Area and Buckhorn Lakes Park, both managed within the larger Uncompahgre National Forest. The map documents a network of primitive access routes, including a Jeep Trail that navigates the complex terrain near Storm King and Castle Rock, providing a detailed view of this alpine region before late-century developments.