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1955 Map of Ironton

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Ironton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Mining operations and high-altitude transport define this mid-century survey of the San Juan Mountains. The landscape is dominated by the industrial legacy of the Silverton and Ouray districts, where the Million Dollar Highway winds past concentrated clusters of extraction sites. Dense mining activity is visible at settlements like Ironton, Guston, and Camp Bird, supported by an extensive network of pack trails and jeep trails that navigate the steep basins.

Resource extraction is evidenced by numerous specific sites such as the Idarado Mine, Grizzly Bear Mine, and Saratoga Smelter (Ruins), along with several tailings ponds. The intersection of Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel counties reveals a complex topography of peaks like Red Mountain No 1 and Potosi Peak, while the unusual inclusion of the Saint Germain Foundation near Crystal Lake adds a layer of social history to this remote mining corridor.