2016 Map of Mirage

About this map

Mirage sits at the base of the Sangre de Cristo foothills, serving as a focal point for this Saguache County landscape where mountain runoff meets the valley floor. The settlement is anchored by the Mirage Cem, while the surrounding land is defined by an intricate network of irrigation systems necessary for high-altitude agriculture. Named water works like the Wales Shellabarger Ditch Number 1, Hoffman Niedhardt Ditch, and Shellabarger-Eaton Ditch trace the historical management of San Luis Cr and its tributaries. To the east, the terrain rises sharply into the Rio Grande National Forest, where the Wild Cherry Trail and Rito Alto Trail provide access to the steep canyons and ridges of Marshall Gulch. This 2016 survey illustrates the persistent reliance on legacy water rights and the traditional ranching infrastructure that characterizes this portion of the San Luis Valley.