1962 Map of Mad Creek

About this map

The Elk River and Yampa River define the drainage of this Routt County landscape as it appeared in the early 1960s. The convergence of these waterways, along with the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad line following the Yampa, highlights the region's transport and agricultural foundation. Irrigation infrastructure like the Keller Ditch and Wither Ditch supports the lower elevations, while the higher ground is dominated by prominent landmarks such as The Sleeping Giant and Elk Mountain. Settled pockets like Mystic contrast with the protected lands of the Routt National Forest that border the eastern reaches. The map captures a transition from managed valley floors to high-country wilderness, recording localized features like the Trull Creek Reservoir No 1 and scattered Storage Bins that reveal the era's land-use patterns.