Loading map...

1954 Map of Palmer Lake

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Palmer Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The mountain town of Palmer Lake serves as the focal point for this mid-1950s survey, showing its position along the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and Denver and Rio Grande Western railroads. The landscape transitions from the developed community of Glenn Park and Pine Crest into the high-elevation terrain of the Pike National Forest. Notable landmarks such as Elephant Rock and Monument Rock punctuate the ridges, while the presence of the Old Stone Fort and the McShane Home (Site) provides a window into the earlier frontier history of El Paso County.

Agricultural and recreational land use is prominent, with several family-named ranches like Cloven Hoof Ranch and Beaver Creek Ranch operating in the valleys. To the west, the map details a network of high-country water features including Rainbow Lake, Columbine Lake, and Boulder Lake, accessible via routes like the Winding Stair Road and Herman Road. The map also captures specialized land management at the Monument Nursery Headquarters near the eastern forest boundary.