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2001 Map of Crestone

Name: 2001 Topographic Map of Crestone
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2005
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2005

About this map

Crestone sits at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, serving as a gateway to some of Colorado's most distinct land divisions. Much of this landscape is defined by the massive Luis Maria Baca Grant No 4, an 1860s-era land grant that remained remarkably intact into the 21st century. The map reveals a transition from the agricultural and ranching history of the valley floor to the industrial traces in the high country, including numerous Prospects and Mines tucked into the canyons.

South of the settlement, the protected reaches of the Baca National Wildlife Refuge and Great Sand Dunes National Park begin to dominate the terrain. Water sources are critical here, evidenced by the network of streams like Cottonwood Creek and Spanish Creek, as well as infrastructure like the Gaging Station and various Water Tanks. For the researcher, the map preserves the location of Alpine Camp and the local Cemetery, markers of long-term human presence in this high-altitude environment.