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2010 Map of Iris

Name: 2010 Topographic Map of Iris
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2010
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2010

About this map

Iris serves as a central point in this part of Gunnison County, surrounded by a high-altitude landscape defined by historical extraction and ranching. The presence of the Iris Cemetery and the Denver City Mine near the town site suggests a history of local industry and settlement that once flourished in the Schisto Basin. The terrain is deeply incised by numerous gulches such as Merry-go-round Gulch and Grayback Gulch, leading toward the prominent Cochetopa Canyon in the east.

Evidence of widespread mining operations is found throughout the area, including the Lucky Strike Mine, Lula Mine, and Mineral Hill Mine. Scattered family names on landmarks like the Flick Homestead, Jones Homestead, and Post Homestead indicate a legacy of early high-country ranching. To the north, the plateau of Flat Top rises above the drainage networks, while the winding course of Cochetopa Creek provides the primary water source for the region's scattered agricultural interests.