1963 Map of Cannibal Plateau

About this map

Gunnison National Forest dominates this high-altitude landscape in Hinsdale County, where dramatic topographic shifts are evidenced by the massive Slumgullion Slide at the southern edge of the sheet. The high-country terrain is defined by the broad Cannibal Plateau and Mesa Seco, separated by deep drainage systems like Devils Canyon. The 1963 field check reveals a network of primitive transportation and water sources, including the Pack Trail winding through the wilderness and isolated points like Infierno Spring. Water features such as Devils Lake and the Deer Lakes provide focal points for the high basin, while Middle Fork Powderhorn Creek and its tributaries carve the north-facing slopes. This era of the landscape is caught just as recreational use began to leave more permanent marks, such as the Hidden Valley Campground near the forest boundary.