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1963 Map of Monument Hill

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Monument Hill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Mining operations and steep drainage basins characterize this 1963 field-checked survey of the San Juan National Forest. The landscape is etched by deep gulches and canyons, where small-scale extraction is evident at the Neglected Mine, Mary S Mine, and Oro Fino Mine. These workings are concentrated around Monument Hill and Leavenworth Gulch, accessible by a network of pack and jeep trails that navigate the high-elevation terrain between Sheephead Basin and the flats below.

Water management and natural drainage patterns are defined by the South Fork Hermosa Creek and Junction Creek, which carve through the plateau. Local history is anchored by descriptive landmarks like Cemetery Flats and Cape Horn, situated near the confluence of Castle Creek. The map provides a precise look at the mid-century infrastructure of the La Plata region before modern development, preserving the locations of names like Muldoon Mine and Checkmaker Mine.