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1959 Map of Royal Gorge

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Royal Gorge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The Arkansas River carves a dramatic path through the Royal Gorge, serving as the primary corridor for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. This industrial and transit hub is anchored by Canon City on the eastern edge, where the State Penitentiary and the winding Skyline Drive overlook the surrounding Gorge Hills. The landscape reveals a mix of active sites and local history, from the Miniature RR near the gorge rim to several locations marked as historical sites, including Sunset City (Site) and Yorkville (Site).

Resource extraction and ranching define the outlying terrain. Numerous quarries dot the hillsides near Eightmile Park and Threemile Park, while the presence of the Griffin Ranch and the settlement at Parkdale suggest a working landscape. The southern portion of the sheet transitions into the San Isabel National Forest, where the topography is marked by significant peaks like Tanner Peak and Fremont Peak.