1953 Map of Little Cone

About this map

The high alpine country of San Miguel County is dominated by the prominent peaks of Little Cone and Flat Top Peak, providing a detailed view of the rugged Colorado landscape in the early 1950s. The northern edge of the map follows the course of the San Miguel River, where the industrial activity at Saw Pit marks a hub of early regional development. This survey, conducted in cooperation with the United States Atomic Energy Commission, highlights a landscape of significant elevation changes and water management, evidenced by features like Hughes Ditch and the Hughes Trail traversing Specie Mesa. Within the Uncompahgre National Forest, the map records numerous watercourses such as Fall Creek and Wilson Creek as they drain toward the canyon, alongside Woods Lake in the southern high country. The inclusion of a Gaging Sta and varied pack trails suggests the importance of water resource monitoring and remote access during this era of uranium-focused exploration.