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1960 Map of Rulison

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Rulison
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Colorado River corridor dominates this 1960s landscape, serving as the primary artery for transport and energy exploration in Garfield County. Along its northern banks, the Denver and Rio Grande Western River railroad tracks parallel the water, passing the settlement of Rulison and the industrial activity of the Naval Oil Shale Reserve. This era marks a significant point in local resource extraction, evidenced by the presence of a Gas Well and a Stone Quarry tucked into the rising terrain.

To the south, the topography shifts dramatically toward Battlement Mesa and the White River National Forest. Settled agricultural life is visible on Morrisania Mesa, where the Hallett Ditch indicates the intensive irrigation required for high-altitude farming. Historic travel ways like the Battlement Trail and various unnamed pack trails wind through steep drainages such as Cottonwood Creek and Spruce Creek, connecting the river valley to the peaks of Doghead Mountain and Houston Mountain.