1967 Map of Fort Garland SW

About this map

The Sangre De Cristo Grant dominates this 1967 terrain, illustrating the agricultural and aviation development of the San Luis Valley. This landscape is defined by an extensive irrigation network essential for high-desert farming, including the Sangre De Cristo Ditch, Highline Canal, and Trinchera Canal. These waterways underscore the coordinated effort required to manage water rights in Costilla County. In the eastern sector, the Willow Creek Reservoir sits at the foot of more dramatic relief, while the western side is marked by the Basaltic Hills. Local transportation and private aviation are represented by named rural routes like Smith Lane and specialized infrastructure such as the Escheman Landing Strips, reflecting a mid-century period when small-scale air travel and ranching were integrated into the rural Colorado experience.