2013 Map of Pipe Spring

About this map

Pipe Spring and Thompson Spring mark vital water points in this high-plains landscape along the border of Bent and Baca Counties. The drainage patterns of Shelton Creek and Caddoa Creek define the local topography, showing how seasonal water courses have carved the terrain. The map captures a transition of land use where a grid of rural county roads, such as CO Road G and CO Road WW, provides the only modern infrastructure through the vast rangeland. Local nomenclature like Little Angry Creek and Mouth Waters suggests the character of these intermittent streams, which were crucial to the early ranching operations of southeastern Colorado. This survey illustrates the persistent isolation of the region, where named springs and creeks remain the primary landmarks across the township and range system.