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2013 Map of Orphan Butte

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Orphan Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Truelson Ranch and the winding course of the Dolores River anchor the northwestern corner of this high-altitude landscape, where the boundaries of Montezuma and La Plata counties intersect. Much of the region is contained within the San Juan National Forest, characterized by a complex network of canyons and draws such as East Canyon, Waechter Gulch, and Rough Canyon. The terrain rises toward Indian Trail Ridge in the southeast, a significant geographical feature overlooking Bear Creek Basin.

Water management is evident through a series of upland catchments, including Last Chance Reservoir, Point Reservoir, and Grindstone Lake. These water sources support a landscape historically utilized for ranching and recreation, connected by a dense system of trails like the Grindstone Loop Trail 658 and Salt Creek Trail 733. Notable landmarks such as Orphan Butte and the curiously named Cape of Good Hope provide distinct navigational points for those studying the high-country drainage patterns and historic land use of the Colorado interior.