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2016 Map of Rifle Falls

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Rifle Falls
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

White River National Forest lands dominate the northern and eastern portions of this Garfield County landscape, where the high elevation Coulter Mesa and Long Park descend into a complex network of gulches and draws. Water management is a primary feature of the terrain, visible through the Grass Valley Canal and the southern Rifle Gap Reservoir. The small settlement at Elk Park serves as a local point of reference in the valley floor, surrounded by the paths of E Rifle Cr and Dry Rifle Cr.

The area's ranching and recreational heritage is evident in the naming of features such as Sawmill Gulch, Beef Draw, and the W Elk Stock Driveway Trail. Higher elevations near Calhoun Basin and Huffman Gulch are accessed via rugged routes like the Mansfield Ditch Trail and Squirrel Trail. This 2016 survey highlights the relationship between the high plateau wilderness and the vital irrigation infrastructure that supports the lower valleys.