Loading map...

2013 Map of Curecanti Needle

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Curecanti Needle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

The Curecanti Needle stands as a prominent landmark over the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in this high-country landscape. This area is defined by the containment of the Gunnison River within the Morrow Point Reservoir, a massive water management feature surrounded by the Curecanti National Recreation Area. The map reveals a history of land use and water rights in a challenging environment, marked by significant irrigation projects like the Big Blue Ditch and McKinley Ditch which move water across the high mesas.

Scattered settlements such as McLeod Ranch and Knott Ranch sit atop Black Mesa, while the Halfway House is located near the southern reaches of Blue Creek. The terrain is characterized by a series of high mesas, including Fitzpatrick Mesa and Soap Mesa, which are dissected by deep gulches and drainage systems like Round Corral Creek and Myers Gulch. From Pioneer Lookout Point, one can visualize the dramatic verticality of the canyon landscape as it was documented in the early 21st century.