1957 Map of Chama Peak

About this map

Continental Divide crests through this high-altitude landscape of southern Colorado, marking the watershed between the Rio Chama and the Conejos River. The 1957 field check records a region defined by its isolation and specialized land use, notably the Gramps Oil Field located deep within the Tierra Amarilla grant. This private landholding, along with the San Juan National Forest and Rio Grande National Forest, characterizes the northern boundary of the historic New Mexico territory. Human presence is sparse, concentrated at the Banded Peak Ranch and its Upper Camp, linked by established routes like the Fish Lake Trail. The map details a complex network of high lakes such as Victoria Lake and Laguna Ruybal, serving as a record of the wilderness just before modern road expansion transformed the approach to the San Juan Mountains.