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1963 Map of Placita

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Placita
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

Crystal River carves through the southeastern corner of this terrain, where the small settlement of Placita sits near the base of the mountains. This 1963 survey captures the area's transition into a center for resource extraction and mountain transit, documented just as the high-country infrastructure was maturing. Industrial activity is concentrated at the Dutch Creek Mine and a Coal Mine located in the high drainage of Coal Basin.

The landscape is defined by the stark boundary between the White River National Forest and the Gunnison National Forest. Steep ridges like Huntsman Ridge and Stony Ridge dominate the topography, punctuated by high-altitude features such as Island Lake and Hayes Creek Falls. The presence of a Drill Hole and a Gaging Sta on the river suggests active geological and hydrological monitoring during this era, while McClure Pass provides the vital link over the divide between Pitkin and Gunnison counties.