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1952 Map of Wolf Ridge

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Wolf Ridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

Wolf Ridge and the surrounding high desert of Rio Blanco County are defined by a network of seasonal watercourses and remote ranching infrastructure in the early 1950s. The landscape is carved by deep drainages like Corral Gulch, Box Elder Gulch, and Yellow Creek, where water management was essential for survival. This is evidenced by the presence of a Flume, a Ditch, and multiple water sources including an Artesian Well, a Spring, and a Windmill near the 84 Ranch.

Evidence of shifting settlement patterns is found at the Ryan School, which is labeled as abandoned by the time of the 1952 field check. This site, located near Ryan Gulch, suggests a time when local families once populated these remote canyons. Moving across the terrain, the map also traces a Trail through Trail Canyon and notes a geodetic marker at VABM Bell 6525, providing a glimpse into the early surveying efforts of this Colorado plateau.