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2013 Map of Redmesa

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Redmesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

The La Plata River winds through this high-altitude landscape of southwestern Colorado, defining a territory where water management is central to the local geography. Human adaptation to the arid environment is evidenced by the systems of the Pioneer Ditch and Enterprise Ditch, which divert water to sustain the small settlements of Redmesa and Marvel. These communities are surrounded by a complex network of geological formations, including the prominent Red Mesa and the volcanic features of Cinder Bluffs and South Cinder Butte.

The map reveals a landscape heavily dissected by erosion, where numerous draws and canyons like Cannibal Canyon, Bragg Draw, and Mooney Draw drain toward the river. Named landmarks such as Butch Henry Draw and Silva Draw suggest a history of local ranching and land use. Transportation is facilitated by Co-140 and a grid of county roads that navigate the varying elevations between the flat mesas and deep canyons such as Johnson Canyon and Post Canyon.