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1960 Map of Fairplay West

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Fairplay West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The town of Fairplay sits at the eastern edge of this 1960s landscape, serving as a gateway to the high-altitude terrain of the Pike National Forest. This survey captures a transition in land use, documenting former active centers like Sacramento (Site) and Horseshoe (Site) that remain only as designated sites. The complex water management of the era is evident in the numerous channels branching from the Middle Fork South Platte River, including the Fairplay Mining Ditch, Westerman Ditch, and Columbia No 1 Ditch.

Old industrial signatures are carved into the slopes of Sheep Mountain and Lamb Mountain, where the Barco Mine and various prospects are noted alongside extensive tailings. A preserved Railroad Grade traces the river valley, while higher elevations are accessible only via a Pack Trail or Jeep Trail through Browns Pass or over Break Neck Pass. This map provides a detailed record of the early mining infrastructure and hydraulic engineering required to work the claims of Park County.