1965 Map of Copperas Peak

About this map

Lake Roberts serves as a central recreational landmark in this mid-century survey of the Gila high country, surrounded by the Mesa Campground, Lake Roberts Campground, and Upper End Campground. The landscape is defined by the drainage of Sapillo Creek and the rugged heights of Copperas Peak and Buck Hannen Mountain. Evidence of early 20th-century industry persists at the Meerschaum Mine, situated near Salt Creek. This mineral, once prized for tobacco pipes, is a rare find in the United States, giving this specific corner of the Gila National Forest a unique geological and industrial profile. Transportation across the drainage is marked by The Military Road and the Sapillo Trail, while numerous livestock tanks like Corral Tank and Meerschaum Tank indicate the ongoing use of the Gila Wilderness and surrounding forest for ranching.