1957 Map of Trail Mountain

About this map

The Arapaho National Forest dominates this mid-century landscape in Grand County, where the infrastructure of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project is clearly visible. The newly created Willow Creek Reservoir and its spillway at 8130 feet are central to the map, while the western reach of Granby Lake reveals the complex shoreline of Rainbow Bay, Fish Bay, and Kokanee Cove. The map documents a transition from traditional high-country ranching to a managed recreational and water-storage landscape. Historical land use is evidenced by the Slash J Slash Ranch, Miller Hereford Ranch, and a Lumber Camp tucked near the northern forest boundary. Water management is a primary focus, shown through the Bunte Highline Ditch and Red Top Valley Ditch, which carve through the foothills of Trail Mountain and Shadow Mountain.