1960 Map of Gateway

About this map

The Dolores River carves a deep path through this Western Colorado landscape, where the settlement of Gateway serves as a small hub near the dramatic uplift of The Palisade. The 1960 revision of the area reveals an active mining landscape tucked into the canyons and mesas, particularly around Tenderfoot Mesa. Here, industrial operations like the Black Mama No 3 Mine, Vanaking No 1 Mine, and Liberty Bell No 2 Mine suggest a period of intense mineral exploration. Cultural markers are few but significant, including the Wayside Chapel and a small site marked Graves near the riverbanks. High plateaus and canyons define the geography, from the Uncompahgre National Forest to the sheer drops of Unaweep Canyon, with a network of unimproved roads and the Pickett Trail providing the only access to the remote interior.