Loading map...

1960 Map of Gateway

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Gateway
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Gateway serves as the primary gateway to the high plateau country of western Colorado, situated at the confluence of the Dolores River and Unaweep Canyon. The 1960 landscape is defined by its deep uranium and vanadium mining history, with numerous operations such as the Vanakin No 1 Mine, Liberty Bell No 2 Mine, and Stormy Treasure Mine scattered across the surrounding mesas. The sheer cliffs of The Palisade tower over the valley, while the rugged interior is marked by specialized outposts like Calamity Camp and Arrowhead Camp.

Remote landforms dominate the terrain, from the expansive Sewemup Mesa to the high reaches of Pine Mountain. The map details a complex network of trails and jeep tracks leading to geologic landmarks like Juanita Arch and isolated mining claims such as the Peach Mines and Yellowbird Mines. This document captures the era when mining activity reached into every canyon and onto every flat-topped mesa, including Tenderfoot Mesa and Outlaw Mesa, before modern wilderness designations changed the character of the Uncompahgre National Forest.