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1973 Map of Kelso Point

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Kelso Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

The Uncompahgre National Forest dominates this section of the Colorado plateau, where the landscape is defined by a series of prominent benches and mesas carved by the Escalante Creek system. At the heart of this high-elevation terrain lies Picket Corral Ranch, situated near the confluence of several mountain drainages. The topography is a complex network of seasonal watercourses and ridges, including the distinct formations of Kelso Mesa and Brushy Ridge.

Tracing the movement through these canyons, the map reveals a reliance on primitive transportation routes like the (Pack) Trail and (Jeep) Trail networks that crisscross the mesa tops. Large-scale features such as North Love Mesa Bench and South Love Mesa Bench flank Love Lake, illustrating the dramatic elevation shifts common to the Mesa and Montrose County line. This 1970s survey captures the region's character as a managed wilderness, emphasizing its hydrological features and the isolation of its family-named landmarks.