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1965 Map of Zapata Ranch

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Zapata Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Great Sand Dunes National Monument dominates the northern half of this landscape, showing the transition from the shifting peaks of the Sand Dunes to the high-country drainage of Medano Creek. The eastern edge rises sharply into the Rio Grande National Forest, where steep canyons like Raspberry Canyon and Tellurium Gulch feed into the valley floor. This mid-1960s survey captures the area’s developing recreational infrastructure, including the Pinyon Flats Campground, Amphitheater, and Visitor Center.

Further south, the namesake Zapata Ranch anchors the valley floor alongside various Flowing Wells. This area is marked by intricate water management and early roads, including a Jeep Trail winding toward the mountains. Evidence of early settlement and land use persists in labels for a Cem, Denton Spring, and a Gravel Pit, providing a detailed look at the rural character and hydraulic geography of Alamosa County during this era.