1990 Map of Kessler Gap

About this map

Bear Mountain and the prominent formation of Castle Rocks anchor this high-plains landscape in Goshen County during the 1990s. The map reveals an intricate system of water management and natural drainage, characterized by the Kessler Ditch and Lovercheck Ditch which parallel the flows of Bear Creek and Lovercheck Creek. These irrigation features, alongside a remote Landing Strip, indicate a specialized ranching or agricultural economy adapted to the high-elevation terrain near Kessler Gap. The presence of several named water sources, including Kessler Spring and other unnamed springs, suggests the critical importance of water rights and access in this arid environment. Collectors and genealogists can trace the physical geography of the Kessler and Atterberry canyons, while landmarks like Squaw Rock provide specific points of reference within the vast county line area.