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2022 Map of Camel Back

Name: 2022 Topographic Map of Camel Back
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2022
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2022

About this map

Uncompahgre National Forest spans the southern half of this landscape, where the high-altitude terrain of Montrose County drops into a series of deeply cut drainage systems. The topography is defined by massive plateau features like Monitor Mesa and Winter Mesa, separated by the steep-walled Potter Canyon. These level-topped landforms provided essential grazing and movement corridors above the winding courses of Cottonwood Cr and Roubideau Cr.

Cultural and ranching history is marked by a network of trails and primitive roads such as the Camel Back Loop Trl and Ben Lowe Rim Trl, which navigate the transitions between the high flats and the basin floors. Named for the prominent ridge at its center, Camel Back serves as a geographic anchor for the surrounding Ben Lowe Flats and Criswell Basin. This 2022 survey details the modern configuration of the Uncompahgre backcountry, recording the permanent water sources like Potter Spring that have long dictated land use in this arid environment.