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1973 Map of Escalante Forks

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Escalante Forks
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1992
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1992

About this map

Steamboat Mesa and Bar Bench dominate this high-desert plateau landscape, where the confluence of the North Fork Escalante Creek and Escalante Forks marks a rare point of settlement. The 1973 field check reveals a network of pack trails and primitive 4WD routes navigating the complex drainage systems of Little Dominguez Creek and Wildhorse Draw. Within the Uncompahgre National Forest, family-named landmarks like Bennetts Basin and Barklay Gulch provide important reference points for regional history researchers and genealogists tracking land use in the Mesa County backcountry.

The topography is defined by sharp elevation changes between tablelands and deep gulches, including the distinctive Sowbelly Ridge and Mc Carty Ridge. Unusual water features such as The Lake and Steamboat Spring stand out in an otherwise arid terrain characterized by dry draws and seasonal creeks. The map also delineates the precise meeting points of Mesa, Delta, and Montrose counties, making it a critical resource for understanding administrative boundaries in this isolated stretch of Colorado.