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1948 Map of Gypsum Gap

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Gypsum Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Dry Creek Basin and the surrounding high-altitude drainage systems dominate this 1948 field-checked survey of San Miguel County. The landscape is defined by the narrow passage of Gypsum Gap, which serves as a natural corridor between the expansive Big Gypsum Valley to the northwest and Disappointment Valley to the south. This era of mapping was influenced by the Atomic Energy Commission, reflecting a period of intense geological scrutiny for mineral resources in the Colorado Plateau.

Extractive industry is evident throughout the terrain, with several named mining operations situated along the valley flanks, including the Long Ridge Mines, Bald Eagle Mines, and Pitchfork Mines. Water sources are critical but scarce in this arid environment, marked by intermittent flows such as West Fork Dry Creek and vital landmarks like Larson Spring. The map documents the primitive road network and topography just as post-war exploration began to reshape this part of the American West.