1955 Map of Ophir

About this map

Ophir and the nearby high-altitude settlement at Ophir Loop sit at the center of this 1955 survey of the northern San Juan Mountains. The landscape is defined by its deep mining heritage, showing active operations like the Silver Bell Mine and the Badger Mine, alongside legacy sites such as the Geld King Mine and Suffolk Mine. These claims are tucked into high basins and gulches beneath towering peaks like Silver Mountain and the jagged Ophir Needles. The map details the complex geography where the Uncompahgre National Forest and San Juan National Forest meet, documenting high-alpine features including the Ice Lake Basin and Lake Hope. An Ophir Loop School and an Old AR Grade provide evidence of the social and industrial infrastructure that supported these remote mountain communities during the mid-twentieth century.