1971 Map of Saltpeter Mountain

About this map

The vast Beaubien and Miranda Grant (Maxwell) dominates this high-altitude landscape in Colfax County during the early 1970s. The map illustrates a complex network of drainage systems including Saltpeter Canyon, Waldron Canyon, and Ashenfelder Canyon that carve through the upland terrain. Significant industrial and ranching infrastructure is evident, particularly the Old Railroad Grade which snakes across the southeastern lowlands near Curtis Creek. At higher elevations, the presence of Mine and Mines labels, alongside the Koehler Mine Water Tank, points to the region's historical reliance on mineral extraction. Water management is a central theme of the sheet, shown through the Saltpeter Dam, Twin Lakes, and a system of Ditch lines and High Line features that supported the local economy in this arid environment.