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2017 Map of Alps Mesa

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Alps Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

The Colorado and New Mexico state line bisects this high-elevation landscape, where the plateau country of Las Animas County meets Union County. The terrain is characterized by a series of prominent mesas and deep drainages, with the expansive Alps Mesa and Umbrella Mesa dominating the central topography. Water sources are sparse but significant in this arid environment, marked by Wheeler Springs near the northern boundary and Starr Spring situated between Starr Canyon and Oak Creek.

A network of local routes, including Co RD b033 and Co RD b084, provides access through the complex of canyons. Geographic landmarks such as Hoodoo Mtn and Tijeras Rincon provide distinct navigational points for researchers tracing historical land use or surveying the transition from the Chavez Mesa area into the deeper reaches of Toll Gate Canyon. This map records the late 20th-century development of the road system and the preservation of traditional place names across the rugged borderlands.