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1962 Map of Mad Creek

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Mad Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Elk River flows prominently through this Colorado landscape, carving a valley between the high peaks of Elk Mountain and the distinctive formation known as The Sleeping Giant. In the early 1960s, this area of Routt County supported a mix of mountain agriculture and forest management, evidenced by the presence of irrigation infrastructure like the Wither River ditch system and Trull Creek Reservoir No 1. Local history is anchored by the Elk Mountain Cem and small communities such as Mystic and Mad Creek.

The southern edge of the survey captures the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad as it follows the Yampa River. While much of the eastern terrain is protected within the Routt National Forest, the valley floors show signs of industrial and ranching utility, from Storage Bins near the tracks to a Gravel Pit along the river. These features highlight a mid-century period when remote mountain drainages were being increasingly managed for water and transport.