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2010 Map of Towaoc

Name: 2010 Topographic Map of Towaoc
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2010
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2010

About this map

Towaoc serves as the focal point of this southwestern Colorado landscape, situated within the Montezuma Valley under the looming presence of the Mesa Verde West Rim. The layout of the settlement is defined by streets such as Chief Ignacio St and Lafayette St, while the community’s cultural infrastructure is anchored by the Ute Mountain Tribal Cemetery and the Ute Mountain Indian Racetrack and Rodeo Grounds. These features, alongside the Towaoc Mine, illustrate a landscape shaped by indigenous heritage and local resource extraction.

Water management is critical to this arid environment, evidenced by the intricate system of Navajo Wash, Fisher Creek, and man-made channels like the Ute Mountain Ditch and Highline Ditch. The geography transitions from the flat valley floor to complex landforms such as Ismay Draw and Head Draw, while Navajo Spring provides a distinct natural water source. The network of Indian Routes and county roads connecting these points reflects the essential transportation corridors of the modern reservation era.