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1972 Map of Snyder Flats

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Snyder Flats
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Unaweep Canyon dominates the southern landscape of this 1972 survey, carved between the high plateaus of the Grand Mesa National Forest and the Uncompahgre National Forest. The dramatic transition from the high mesa to the canyon floor is marked by the Unaweep Divide, where water flows either east toward North East Creek or west into West Creek. This high-altitude terrain is characterized by a sparse human footprint, primarily represented by the Eighteenmile Road and various Jeep Trails that traverse the eponymous Snyder Flats.

Evidence of early ranching or seasonal habitation appears at the settlement of Aubert and across the open expanse of Gill Meadows. Features like Enochs Lake and the prominent Thimble Rock Point provide specific geographic anchors for those studying the land use patterns of the Mesa County backcountry during the mid-20th century. The intricate network of Pack Trails and gulches, such as Mayflower Gulch and Rocky Pitch Gulch, suggests a landscape shaped by both natural drainage and the historical movement of livestock through the mountain passes.