2021 Map of Kessler Gap

About this map

Kessler Gap and the surrounding high country of Goshen County dominate this landscape, where the high plains break into a series of distinctive landforms. The terrain is defined by prominent elevations such as Bear Mtn and Squaw Rock, which rise above deep incisions like Kessler Canyon and Atterberry Canyon. Water management is central to the area's geography, evidenced by the systems of the Kessler Ditch and Bear Cr Ditch that parallel natural drainages like Fox Cr and Bear Cr. This network of ditches illustrates the historical effort to harness seasonal runoff for agricultural use in an otherwise arid environment. Local transit is facilitated by a grid of county roads, including Bear Creek Rd and Co Rd 242, which connect remote ranching interests through the canyon floors and across the high plateaus.