1957 Map of Cathedral Peak

About this map

Gould Reservoir and the high drainage basins of the Gunnison National Forest define this landscape during the mid-1950s. The map captures a high-elevation network of irrigation and livestock infrastructure, including the spillway near Cedar Point and the ditch systems that channel water across Fruitland Mesa. This era shows the rugged transition from the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River in the southwest up to the 9,300-foot summit of Cathedral Peak. Ranching and outdoor activity are central to the area's layout, evidenced by Gates Camp along Crystal Creek and the Cattlemans Trail winding through the Onion Valley. The topography is dominated by massive flat-topped features like Dead Horse Mesa and the Flatiron, cut by deep seasonal drainages such as Buckhorn Gulch and Spring Gulch.