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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 high-country landscape of the Pike National Forest dominates this 1960 field-checked survey, revealing a history of hydraulic engineering and mining at the edge of the Park Range. Extensive water management systems like the Fairplay Mining Ditch, Columbia No 1 Ditch, and Old Ditch reveal the effort required to support industrial activity near Fairplay. Traces of earlier settlements are noted at Sacramento (Site) and Horseshoe (Site), while active extraction is evidenced by the Barco Mine and numerous quarries and prospects.

High mountain geography is meticulously detailed from Sheep Mountain to the steep Break Neck Pass. The drainage patterns of the Middle Fork South Platte River and its tributaries, including Sacramento Creek and Fourmile Creek, provide a clear view of the hydrological network used by local mining operations. A former railroad grade near the river indicates the transportation routes that once linked these high-altitude camps to the valley below.