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1956 Map of Curecanti Needle

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Curecanti Needle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

Black Canyon of the Gunnison dominates this mid-century survey, showcasing the dramatic elevation changes where the Gunnison River carves through the Colorado landscape. At the center of the canyon stands the Curecanti Needle, a prominent landmark within the Curecanti National Recreation Area. The map reveals a transition in land use, from the managed timber of the Gunnison National Forest to isolated homesteads and ranching outposts.

Evidence of local habitation is found at McLeod Ranch and Knott Ranch, while the Halfway House sits along the southeastern drainage near Little Blue Creek. High-elevation plateaus like Black Mesa and Fitzpatrick Mesa are crisscrossed by a Jeep Trail, providing access to remote water sources such as Round Corral Spring and Dry Lake. This document provides a record of the area before extensive modern development, capturing the original footprint of the Morrow Point Reservoir shoreline.