1954 Map of La Sal

About this map

Mt Peale and the high peaks of the Manti-La Sal National Forest anchor this mid-century survey of the Utah-Colorado borderlands. The map reveals an intensive era of mineral exploration across Wray Mesa and Carpenter Ridge, where dozens of named mining claims such as the Vanadium Queen Mine, Uranium Girl Mine, and Firefly Mine are documented. These operations were connected by a network of jeep trails through remote canyons like Lion Canyon and Sharp Canyon. The settlement pattern centers on the transition from the older ranching outpost at Old La Sal to the newer development of La Sal. Essential water resources for both cattle and mining are carefully noted, including high-elevation sites like Buckeye Res and the Pine Lodge Ranch, illustrating how the landscape was managed for multiple industrial and agricultural uses.