Loading map...

1954 Map of Hells Canyon

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Hells Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Yampa River carves a deep path through this corner of Northwest Colorado, anchoring a landscape where isolated homesteads and ranching outposts defined the early 20th-century frontier. Within the Dinosaur National Monument, the map reveals the intersection of rugged topography and human settlement, notably at Mantle Ranch and its accompanying Mantle Sch. Higher elevations are marked by distinctive landmarks like The Billiard Table and Round Top Mountain.

Evidence of shifting land use is visible in the identification of the Fred Wall Place (Aband) and Caldwell Place (Aband), suggesting the difficulty of sustaining life in the arid canyons. Water remains the critical resource, with features such as Mud Springs and Bobcat Springs punctuating the network of draws. Cultural and geological history meet at Mantle Cave and Castle Rock, while the sheer variety of named drainage features like Spike Hollow Draw and Slough Draw illustrates a deeply intimate knowledge of the terrain.