1969 Map of Island Mesa

About this map

Island Mesa and Horse Mesa define this dramatic stretch of the Colorado landscape, where the topography is dominated by deeply incised drainages and steep benches. The map captures the area in the late 1960s, a period when the high ground was navigated primarily via a network of Jeep Trails. Water sources like Corduroy Spring, Notch Spring, and End Spring provided critical points of interest in this arid environment. To the north and east, the Gunnison River snakes through the valley, flanked by the D & R G W RR tracks. The presence of Claypits and isolated Drill Holes suggests localized industrial and exploratory activity amidst the formidable terrain of Rough Canyon and Hells Hole.