1967 Map of South Fork West

About this map

The confluence of the Rio Grande and the South Fork Rio Grande serves as the focal point for this mountain landscape, where the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad tracks parallel the river's path. During the late 1960s, the small community of South Fork and the nearby settlement of Baxterville anchored the local economy, which was deeply tied to the surrounding Rio Grande National Forest. The map reveals a transition from valley ranching at Riverside Ranch and Elk Ranch to the steep, drainage-cut slopes of Haney Canyon and Raspberry Gulch. Water management is evident through the Highline Ditch, while the Forest Service presence is established by the Alder Guard Station and South Fork Guard Station. This era shows a landscape where mountain recreation, exemplified by Masonic Park, coexisted with active ranching and traditional rail transport through the canyon corridors.