1955 Map of The Meadows

About this map

The high plateau country of the Grand Mesa National Forest is defined here by a network of cattle-country landmarks and remote water sources. In the mid-1950s, this landscape supported seasonal ranching activities, evidenced by the Leon Cow Camp and several family-named water features like Anderson Bros Res and Mc Kelvie Res. The terrain transitions from the broad expanses of Kirkendall Flats and Sheep Flats toward the more prominent heights of Campbell Mountain and Bogue Mountain. This era was one of essential, functional infrastructure for the high country, with long drift fences and simple paths like Spruce Trail and Silver Trail facilitating movement through the timber and across the meadows. Numerous Beaver Ponds are mapped along drainage ways like Park Creek and Leon Creek, indicating the natural drainage patterns that sustain this elevated ecosystem.