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1967 Map of La Jara Canyon

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of La Jara Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

Braiden Cow Camp and the small settlement at Darley anchor this high-elevation landscape in the late 1960s. The area is defined by complex water management and seasonal livestock movement, evidenced by the Stock Driveway (Pack) and various pack trails winding through the Rio Grande National Forest. The geography is dominated by the deep descent of La Jara Canyon, which collects drainage from high-altitude features like Chicago Bogs and Twin Lakes.

Hydrological engineering is prominent throughout the terrain, from the La Jara Res and Bluebird Reservoir to the numerous smaller catchments like La Grulla Lake and Hidden Lake. The southern edge of the map follows the winding course of the Conejos River near Elk Creek, illustrating the transition from steep canyon walls to the riparian valley floor. This survey provides a look at the infrastructure of the San Luis Valley's western rim before modern recreational development intensified.