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1967 Map of Crestone

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Crestone
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

Crestone sits at the edge of the high desert and the steep rise of the Rio Grande National Forest, marking a point where the Sangre de Cristo foothills meet the San Luis Valley floor. This 1967 survey, updated with 1982 revisions, details a landscape defined by sharp drainage patterns and old transit routes. An Old Railroad Grade runs near the town, a relic of the era when rail connected these high-altitude settlements to the valley's mining and ranching hubs.

The map reveals the intricate water management of the region, featuring numerous wells and a Flowing Well on the flats of the Luis Maria Baca No 4 land grant. High-country drainage flows through deep cuts like Burnt Gulch and Copper Gulch, while the southern reaches show remote outposts like Alpine Camp near Deadman Creek. The transition from the open valley to the dense woodland of the national forest is sharply defined by the historic Grant Boundary.