1953 Map of Little Cone

About this map

Specie Mesa and Wilson Mesa dominate this high-altitude landscape in San Miguel County, recorded during a 1952 aerial survey. The San Miguel River cuts through the northern boundary near the small settlement at Saw Pit, where the presence of a Gaging Sta and an aerial tramway nearby suggest the area's industrial and water-management activities. Much of the terrain lies within the Uncompahgre National Forest, characterized by steep drainage systems like Fall Creek and Specie Creek. The map documents early water infrastructure essential for high-country life, including Hughes Ditch and Wilson Ditch, which redirect snowmelt across the plateaus. For those tracking land use, the network of a Pack Trail and various unnamed trails winding toward Little Cone and Woods Lake provides a detailed look at the era's backcountry accessibility.