Loading map...

1955 Map of Red Rock Canyon

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Red Rock Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument dominates this mid-century topographic record, capturing the dramatic verticality of the Gunnison River gorge. The map details the transition from the high, plateau-like terrain of North Mesa and Flat Top into the sharp descent of the canyon walls. Water management and resource extraction are evident through the presence of a canal, several ditches, and an abandoned mine, reflecting the region's agricultural and industrial history.

One particularly specific industrial relic shown is the State Tunnel Dam (Aband), a remnant of early irrigation efforts. Notable high points like Warner Point and Green Mountain serve as anchor points for the landscape, while areas like Bostwick Park and Pleasant Park suggest the few pockets of level ground suitable for use in an otherwise vertical environment. Field checked in 1955, the survey remains a primary source for locating vanished features like Loutsenhizer and early trails.