1961 Map of Woody Creek

About this map

The Roaring Fork River valley serves as the primary corridor of this 1961 survey, where the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad tracks follow the river's path through the high country. This map illustrates a transition from the agricultural valley floor to the high-altitude wilderness of the White River National Forest, featuring the small settlements of Snowmass and Woody Creek. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of irrigation systems necessary for mountain ranching, including the Salvation Ditch, Walker-Wonder Ditch, and Williams Ditch. High points like Sloane Peak overlook deep-cut drainages such as Red Canyon and Wheatley Gulch. Topographic details reveal the complex water management required in this environment, from the Fryingpan River in the northwest to the Brush Creek Ditch near the Watson Divide.