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1961 Map of Leon

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Leon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The confluence of mountain drainage and early water management systems defines this portion of Eagle and Garfield counties in the early 1960s. Spring Park Reservoir sits as a central landmark, while the Home Supply Ditch illustrates the vital infrastructure required to support agricultural and ranching efforts in this high-elevation environment. The southern boundary of the map follows the winding path of the Roaring Fork River, paralleled by the tracks of the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad, a corridor that supported the small settlement of El Jebel.

Rising above the river valley, the terrain transitions into the dense timber of the White River National Forest, anchored by the mass of Basalt Mountain. Remote outposts such as the Cattle Creek Guard Station and established routes like the Cattle Creek Trail indicate the area's use for forest management and livestock grazing. From the alpine waters of Kelly Lake to the drainage of Shippees Draw, the map documents a landscape balanced between rugged wilderness and the foundational elements of Western Colorado's mid-century expansion.