1954 Map of Deckers

About this map

The South Platte River carves a winding path through this 1954 survey of the Pike National Forest, defining the boundary between Jefferson and Douglas counties. Small riverside settlements and ranches characterize the local landscape, with Deckers and Trumbull anchoring the southern reaches of the river canyon. This area shows a transition from working ranch land to mid-century recreation, evidenced by the Top of the World Picnic Ground and several campgrounds along the water. Notable landmarks such as Skull Rock and Long Scraggy Peak rise sharply from the gulches, while the presence of an inactive mine and various named drainages like Saloon Gulch and Gunbarrel Creek point to a history of resource extraction and rugged frontier life. The map captures a specific moment before further development, where small outposts like Oxyoke and Nighthawk served as remote waypoints in the forest.