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1963 Map of Hesperus

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Hesperus
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The San Juan Mountains define the northern reaches of this Colorado survey, where narrow gulches and ridges descend toward the La Plata River valley. The high-altitude landscape is marked by a legacy of resource extraction, with numerous workings like the Bay City Mine, Snowslide Mine, and Texas Chief Mine scattered through the steep terrain. These mining operations relied on an intricate network of water management, evidenced by the La Plata and Cherry Creek Ditch and the Big Stick Ditch that traverse the slopes.

Industrial activity continues south along the river corridor near the settlements of Mayday and Hesperus, where coal production is highlighted by the Burnwell No 1 Mine and the Coal King Mine. The valley floor also preserves an Old Railroad Grade, tracing a vanished transportation route through the San Juan National Forest. Near the town of Hesperus, the Hesperus Cem serves as a tangible link for genealogists researching the families of this mining and ranching district.