2022 Map of Buena Vista West

About this map

Sawatch Range peaks dominate the western horizon of this Chaffee County landscape, where the high-altitude wilderness of the San Isabel National Forest meets the developed valley floor. The town of Buena Vista serves as the focal point, situated at the confluence of several vital water management systems including the Cottonwood Maxwell Ditch, Wolf and Neerland Ditch, and Mary Bray Ditch. These irrigation features, along with others like the McKenna Ditch and Riverside Ditch, illustrate the sophisticated hydraulic engineering required to support high-desert agriculture and settlement in the shadow of the Collegiate Peaks. Local history is anchored by Mount Olivet Cem and the Central Colorado Regional Airport, while the eastern boundary is defined by the Arkansas River. The terrain transitions from the steep slopes of Bald Mtn down through Charcoal Gulch and Coal Kiln Gulch, reflecting the area's geological and extractive history.