1963 Map of Flatiron Mountain

About this map

The White River National Forest and Grand Mesa National Forest meet in this high-altitude landscape of the Western Slope, surveyed in the early 1960s. The terrain is defined by the massive presence of Flatiron Mountain and Coal Ridge Creek, illustrating a wilderness area increasingly being utilized for energy extraction. Numerous Gas Wells and a Drill Hole are scattered across the ridges, particularly near Flagpole Mountain and Horse Park, while a network of pipelines cuts across the gulches. Despite this industrial encroachment, the area remains remote, serviced primarily by a Pack Trail and several jeep tracks. Water management is evident along the northern boundary through the Highline Ditch, while the Cayton Guard Station stands as a lonely administrative outpost monitoring the drainages of Cayton Gulch and Muddy Creek.