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1963 Map of Hermosa

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Hermosa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad corridor anchors this valley landscape, following the course of the Animas River as it cuts through the San Juan National Forest. Small settlements such as Rockwood, Hermosa, and Trimble line the rail route, serving as historic points of activity in the mid-20th century. The presence of the Hermosa Cem and several water management features, including the Consolidated Ditch and Reid Ditch, reflect a community reliant on both the river and the surrounding mountain slopes for its livelihood.

Rising sharply to the east, Missionary Ridge dominates the skyline, while higher-altitude water bodies like Shalona Lake, Stratton Lake, and Smith Lake are dotted among the drainages. The map details a landscape transition from the managed valley floor to the high-country wilderness, marked by numerous named tributaries such as Hermosa Creek and Elbert Creek. Scattered prospects and a Quarry near Rockwood indicate the area's legacy of small-scale resource extraction.