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1960 Map of Lone Mountain

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Lone Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

Ross Mountain and Peck Mesa rise above the high desert landscape of Moffat County, where the confluence of the Yampa River and the Little Snake River dictates the pattern of early ranching life. This 1960 field-checked survey highlights a remote network of family-held operations, from the Sheridan Ranch in the river bottom to the Solace Ranch tucked into the draws.

The presence of the Two Bar Ranch and Two Bar Springs suggests the importance of reliable water sources in this arid basin. Between the peaks of Lone Mountain and Douglas Mountain, the map records a territory defined by seasonal drainage patterns like Sheepherder Springs Draw and Yellow Cat Wash. These labels preserve the identity of small settlements like Vaughn and the vital reservoirs, such as Clay Buttes Reservoir, that supported the region's livestock industry before modern infrastructure transformed the plateau.