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1962 Map of Drake

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Drake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The Big Thompson River carves a path through the heart of the Roosevelt National Forest on this 1960s-era topographical study, which includes aerial revisions from the late 1970s. The settlement at Drake serves as a focal point where the North Fork Big Thompson River meets the main channel, anchoring a corridor of small riverfront communities including Midway, Waltonia, and Cedar Cove. This mountain landscape is defined by its deep canyons and steep gulches, such as Sullivan Gulch and Galuchie Gulch, which isolate high-elevation flats like Cedar Park and Galuchie Park.

Resource and recreation development is evident throughout the canyon, from the State Fish Hatchery and the Hyatt Mine to the established grounds of Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park. The presence of the Big Thompson Aqueduct winding alongside the river underscores the vital role of water management in this arid mountain environment. Genealogists and historians can trace the early footprint of these canyon settlements and named landmarks like Spruce Mountain and Alexander Mountain before later modernization.