1963 Map of Wallace Ranch

About this map

The Dolores River carves a deep path through the high plateaus of Montezuma County, anchoring a landscape defined by seasonal ranching and water management. On the heights of Taylor Mesa and Haycamp Mesa, a network of small, isolated water bodies like Taylor Mesa Reservoir and Greenlee Reservoir reflects the critical importance of livestock watering in the San Juan National Forest. Movement across this terrain is marked by historical routes such as the High Line Driveway and Section House Driveway, which served as essential corridors for moving herds through the forest. Evidence of local habitation and land use is sparse but significant, centered on the Wallace Ranch and Circle K Ranch along the riverbanks, where the topography levels out briefly before rising again into steep gulches like Cushman Gulch and Priest Gulch.