1953 Map of Dolores Peak

About this map

Dunton serves as a central point of human activity within this high-elevation landscape, where the West Dolores River and its numerous tributaries carve through the San Miguel Mountains. The 1950s era of the survey reveals a mix of recreational and extractive uses, with Dunton Hot Spring and the Burro Bridge Campground positioned alongside old mining interests like the Smuggler Mine and scattered pits in the Silver Pick Basin. These features suggest a period of transition where the remote terrain was being utilized for both its natural resources and its burgeoning outdoor appeal. Transportation is largely defined by specialized routes such as the Ground Hog Stock Driveway and the Dunton Road, which link the high meadows and peaks, including the prominent El Diente Peak and Dolores Peak, to the seasonal camps and forest stations below.