1963 Map of Orphan Butte

About this map

The Dolores River winds through the northwest corner of this 1963 survey, where an Old Railroad Grade follows the canyon floor near the Truelsen Ranch. This area of the San Juan National Forest is defined by a dense network of high-elevation pack trails and named ridges, including the prominently labeled Highline Ridge and the Cape of Good Hope. Evidence of early rural infrastructure appears at the lone Schoolhouse located along the western boundary near the river's path. The landscape is deeply carved by drainage systems like Roaring Forks Creek and Waechter Gulch, which converge toward the river. To the south, high alpine features such as Grindstone Lake and Devil Point sit amidst a wilderness where the Montezuma and La Plata county line crosses through the high peaks.