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1951 Map of Cripple Creek North

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Cripple Creek North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Cripple Creek anchors the southern margin of this 1951 topographic survey, showcasing the complex high-altitude terrain that defined one of Colorado's most famous gold mining districts. The map documents the industrial and civic footprint of the era, including the Mollie Kathleen Mine and the County Hospital situated near the town site. The landscape is dominated by volcanic peaks such as Rhyolite Mountain, Copper Mountain, and Mt Pisgah, which rise above the gulches that fueled the region's late 19th-century boom.

North of the main settlement, the area around Midland reveals a transition into the dense timber of the Pike National Forest and Black Forest. Notable for recreation history, the Tenderfoot Ski Area is visible on the slopes of Tenderfoot Hill, reflecting the mid-century evolution of the region from purely extractive industry toward leisure and tourism. The drainage patterns of Fourmile Creek and Oil Creek illustrate the challenging geography that dictated early transport and rail routes into the district.