1958 Map of Fall River Pass

About this map

The Continental Divide zigzags through this high-elevation mountain terrain, serving as the headwaters for the Colorado River within the Kawuneeche Valley. This 1958 field-checked map captures a landscape defined by water engineering and early tourism infrastructure, evidenced by the Upper Michigan Ditch and Grand Ditch which divert water across the divide. Traces of 19th-century silver mining history are visible at Lulu City, while the evolving recreational use of the land is marked by the Phantom Valley Trading Post, Phantom Valley Ranch, and the Timber Creek Campground. Significant landmarks like Specimen Mountain and The Crater loom over the valley, while early motor routes such as the Fall River Road snake through Milner Pass and around the Medicine Bow Curve. From the Sawmill in the northwest to the remote Lakes in the southeast, the map details the intersection of wilderness and human utility.