2016 Map of Lands End

About this map

Lands End serves as the focal point for this survey of the western edge of the Grand Mesa, where high-altitude water management defines the human landscape. The terrain is characterized by an intricate network of irrigation and storage systems within the Grand Mesa National Forest, including the Anderson Reservoirs, Vincent Reservoirs, and Rapid Cr Reservoir Number 1. These engineered water bodies, often named for local figures like the Somerville-McCullah Reservoir and Jacobs Reservoir Number 2, illustrate the critical importance of water rights and storage in the arid West. To the west, the landscape drops away into the Whitewater Basin and Coal Creek Basin, while several established pathways like the W Bench Trail and Whitewater Basin Trail navigate the complex topography between the plateau's rim and the drainages of N Fork Kannah Cr and Mesa Cr.