2011 Map of Lyons

About this map

Lyons serves as a focal point in this landscape where the Front Range meets the plains, defined by a complex network of industrial extraction and water management. The area is marked by numerous historic mining operations, including the Golden Age Mine, Longfellow Mine, and Cal-Wood Mica Mine, alongside active stone extraction at the University of Colorado Quarry and Steamboat Valley Quarry. Water engineering is central to the region's development, evidenced by the Button Rock Dam and Button Rock Reservoir, which feed into North Saint Vrain Creek. Farther south, the settlement of Altona and the Altona Grange sit near a sophisticated system of irrigation infrastructure, including the Toll Gate Ditch, Table Mountain Ditch, and Lake Ditch. This geography illustrates the transition from high-mountain gulches like Deadman Gulch to the managed agricultural lands of the foothills.