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1902 Map of Ouray

Name: 1902 Topographic Map of Ouray
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The town of Ouray sits at the head of the Uncompahgre River valley, serving as a mountain hub during this 1901-1902 survey. The local economy and transport are defined by the Denver and Rio Grande R. R., which follows the river northward past settlements like Bachelor Switch, Portland, and Hot Springs toward Dallas. This era is marked by the complex relationship between mining-era infrastructure and the high-altitude terrain, where industrial rail lines terminate at the edge of the Uncompahgre National Forest.

Beyond the valley floor, the landscape transitions into a series of massive ridges and peaks, including Wetterhorn Peak and Whitehouse Mtn.. High-country features like American Flat and the Porphyry Basin are accessed via routes like Difficulty Trail, while smaller water bodies such as Lake Lenore and Black Lake dot the slopes. The map also records the precise meeting points of Ouray, Gunnison, and Hinsdale counties along the jagged Cimarron Ridge.