1960 Map of Engineer Mountain

About this map

Engineer Mountain dominates the center of this 1960 survey, serving as a prominent landmark at the intersection of San Juan National Forest and the county boundaries of San Juan, La Plata, and Dolores. The landscape reveals an era of high-altitude accessibility and early recreation, evidenced by the Mill Creek Lodge and several designated sites like the Columbine Ranger Sta and Purgatory Campground. The rugged topography is defined by sharp peaks such as Grayrock Peak and the lengthy Sliderock Ridge, with Coal Bank Pass providing a critical high-point transition for Route 550. Water management is notably represented by an aqueduct and siphon system near the southern boundary, while local landmarks like Harris Ranch and various named basins, including Purgatory Flats, reflect the varied human and natural history of this high San Juan mountain range.