2020 Map of Ares Peak

About this map

Lincoln National Forest encompasses the rugged center of this high-desert landscape on the border of Otero and Eddy counties. The terrain is defined by a dense network of arid canyons and ridges, including Lawyer Canyon, Rawhide Canyon, and Pierce Canyon, all of which feed into the wider drainage of Rocky Arroyo. In this water-scarce environment, the presence of localized improvements like the Acrey Water Storage Tank, Lawyer Dirt Tank, and Wilson Tank points to the area's long-standing use for cattle ranching, further evidenced by the named National Livestock Road. To the south, the foothills of the Guadalupe Mountains rise toward the summit of Ares Peak, while the northern region is marked by the confluence of canyons at Three Forks. This map preserves the nomenclature of a working landscape, where every draw and ridge, such as Powers Ridge and Roberts Canyon, was identified for livestock management and navigation.