2019 Map of Cimarron

About this map

Cimarron sits at a critical junction of high-country water and transport in Montrose County, where the Cimarron River meets the canyonlands. This landscape is defined by the steep transition from the high flat tops of Poverty Mesa and Black Mesa down into the sheer depths of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The 2019 survey shows the complex water management of the region, including the Morrow Point Reservoir and irrigation infrastructure such as the Cimarron Ditch and Collier Ditch. These waterways support the livestock and agricultural life of the valley while the surrounding Gunnison National Forest and Curecanti National Recreation Area preserve the dramatic verticality of Morrow Point and Sheep Knob. Trail systems like the Hermits Rest Trail and Mesa Creek Trail reflect the modern recreational use of these historical cattle and transit routes.