1963 Map of Lost Lake

About this map

Meaker Ranch and Miles Ranch sit along the northern reaches of this high-altitude landscape, where human settlement is defined by isolated homesteads and seasonal cabins within the Uncompahgre National Forest. Water management is central to the area's history, evidenced by the McKinley Ditch and several named reservoirs like Fitzpatrick Reservoir that redirected flows across the high plateaus. The topography is dominated by the massive Horse Mesa and High Mesa, which divide the complex drainage systems of the Little Cimarron River and the three branches of Blue Creek. For researchers, the presence of specific structures like the Sampson Cabin, Reynaldo Cabin, and Williams Cabin identifies exact sites of high-country activity. The network of trails, including the Butte Trail, suggests a landscape used for ranching and timber long before modern recreational access.