1952 Map of Horse Mountain

About this map

White River National Forest lands dominate this Garfield County landscape, where the dramatic Grand Hogback ridge cuts across the southwestern terrain. The map captures a transition in land use, showing the intersection of conservation and resource extraction through the Naval Oil Shale Reserve and an identified Coal Mine near the southern boundary. Water management is a primary focus, anchored by the Rifle Gap Reservoir and its surrounding Rifle Gap State Recreation Area. Multiple drainage systems including Middle Rifle Creek, West Rifle Creek, and Butler Creek carve through the high country around Horse Mountain and Parker Ridge. Small landmarks like Harris Reservoir and Parker Lake provide specific points of interest for those tracing the history of irrigation and livestock management in this part of the Colorado backcountry.