1957 Map of Cathedral Peak

About this map

Gould Reservoir and the high elevations of Cathedral Peak dominate this landscape in eastern Montrose County. The 1957 field check reveals a terrain defined by agricultural water management and high-desert plateaus, where Fruitland Mesa and Deadhorse Mesa are carved by deep drainages like Pine Gulch and Buckhorn Gulch. To the south, the map captures the steep descent into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area. Small pockets of human activity are noted at Cedar Point and Gates Camp, while the Cattlemans Ditch and Lazy F Ranch Road indicate the ranching economy that relies on the seasonal flow of Onion Valley Creek and Crystal Creek within the Gunnison National Forest.