1958 Map of Grand Lake

About this map

The Kawuneeche Valley serves as a central corridor for this late 1950s survey, illustrating the complex land use at the western entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. The landscape is dotted with established tourist and guest operations including Grand Lake Lodge, Columbine Lodge, and the Holzwarth Ranch, while the Gaskil (Site) indicates a previous era of settlement. The map reveals the intricate water management of the high country, following the Grand Ditch as it skirts the Continental Divide to divert water toward the eastern slope. In the south, the village of Grand Lake sits at the head of its namesake water body, adjacent to the Alva B Adams Tunnel, a massive engineering feat that underscores the region's importance to Colorado's hydro-infrastructure. From Big Meadows to the heights of Mt Ida, the transition from valley floor ranching to alpine wilderness is clearly delineated.