2022 Map of Whitewater

About this map

The Gunnison River carves through the landscape near the small community of Whitewater, where the historic Old Spanish Trl intersects with a modern network of roads and trails. This area, marked by dramatic elevation changes between Milbern Bench and the deep cut of Unaweep Canyon, reveals a rugged high-desert settlement pattern focused on water management. Numerous irrigation features, including the Purdy Mesa Flow Line and Kannah Cr Extension Ditch, trace the contours of the land to support local agriculture. Genealogists will find the Whitewater Cem situated near the confluence of Whitewater Cr and the main river, while land researchers can trace the old property boundaries of the settlement at Kannah. The map highlights a transition from river-bottom activity to upland basins like Hallock Basin, illustrating the importance of natural drainage and man-made ditches in Western Colorado.