1962 Map of Spring Hill Creek

About this map

Continental Mine and the Midland Mine highlight the mineral extraction history of this mountain landscape along the border of Gunnison and Saguache counties. During the early 1960s, the area remained a working landscape of high-altitude ranching and prospecting, evidenced by the Cooper Ranch, Shelton Ranch, and the remote Mergelmann Cow Camp. The terrain is deeply carved by drainage systems including Spring Hill Creek, South Beaver Creek, and Willow Creek, which flow through the protected boundaries of the Gunnison National Forest. Genealogists and local historians can find traces of early residents at the Watts Homestead near Watts Draw. A network of unimproved roads and a Jeep Trail provide the only access to these isolated sites, linking various unnamed prospects scattered across Black Ridge and the surrounding peaks.