2023 Map of Alamosa Canyon

About this map

The high desert landscape of the New Mexico borderlands is defined by a dense network of erosional drainages and livestock water sources. The prominent Alamosa Canyon and its tributaries, including Salitre Canyon and Dog Canyon, carve through the terrain, while the northeast corner is marked by the high ground of Rincon Colorado. The county line between Harding and San Miguel runs diagonally across the quadrangle, intersecting a series of man-made water catchments such as Mesquite Tank, Pothole Tank, and Riprap Tank. These features indicate a landscape shaped by ranching and the management of seasonal runoff. Sparse infrastructure like Co RD J-1 and Nana'S LN provide the few points of access to this remote region, where the hydrology of Atarque Creek and Carros Creek remains the primary influence on land use and movement.