1961 Map of Jewel Springs

About this map

The North Platte River dominates the western portion of this 1961 landscape, where the waters of the Glendo Reservoir fill the valley to a normal pool elevation of 4635 feet. Established just years prior as part of the Missouri River Basin development, the reservoir and the adjacent Glendo State Park redefined the local topography, submerged portions of the riverbed, and created a new recreational center at the border of Platte and Converse counties. Stretching across the high plains to the east, the historic Emigrant Trail cuts a diagonal path through the terrain, providing a tangible link to the wagon routes that once traversed this region. Landforms such as Rattlesnake Ridge and Sentinel Rock overlook a network of seasonal drainages including Spanish Creek and Willow Creek, while localized water sources like Jewel Springs and Buck Camp Spring anchor the ranching landscape.