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1962 Map of Haystack Rock

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Haystack Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

Yampa River meanders through the northern section of this 1960s quadrangle, carving a deep corridor through Dinosaur National Monument. The landscape is defined by dramatic elevation changes, where the river is flanked by landforms such as Haystack Rock and Lake Bench. To the south, the terrain rises toward the prominent Bear Valley Ridge, which overlooks the expansive Bear Valley.

Settlement is sparse in this high-desert environment, centered primarily on the Mantle Ranch near the center of the sheet. Access during this era was limited to unpaved routes like Mantle Ranch Road and Bear Valley Road. The map documents numerous seasonal drainage features and remote landmarks, including Iron Mine Basin, Tepee Hole, and the steep Thanksgiving Gorge, illustrating the isolated and topographical nature of Moffat County's backcountry before modern development.