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1957 Map of Chama Peak

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Chama Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The Continental Divide zigzags across this high-altitude landscape, separating the headwaters of the Navajo River and Rio Chama from the South Fork Conejos River drainage. This 1957 field check records a sparsely settled wilderness where early industrial and ranching interests carved out a presence. The Gramps Oil Field stands as a notable industrial landmark amidst the massive peaks of the Chalk Mountains, while the Tierra Amarilla Grant Boundary marks a historical property line dating back to Spanish and Mexican land grants.

Accessibility is defined by a network of pack trails, including the Fish Lake Trail and South Fork Trail, rather than roads. The presence of the Banded Peak Ranch and its Upper Camp illustrates the remote livestock operations of the mid-century. Notable landmarks like Elephant Head Rock and Banded Peak dominate the skyline, while high-mountain waters such as Laguna Ruybal and Victoria Lake dot the basins between the San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests.