2017 Map of Arroyo Empedrado

About this map

Mesa San Luis and the sweeping plateau of Rincon Largo define this high-desert landscape in the Sandoval County backcountry. This 2017 survey shows a region deeply etched by seasonal watercourses including Arroyo Empedrado, Arroyo Piedra Lumbre, and Torreon Wash, which reveal the drainage patterns toward the Rio Puerco basin. Human movement across this arid terrain is traced by the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, which winds through La Cañada Santiago toward the southern boundary. While the area is largely characterized by open range, the inclusion of Cabezon Community Reservoir and Laguna de la Leña highlights the critical importance of water management in this New Mexico landscape. Local ranching and access routes are documented through unpaved paths such as San Luis Rd and Lower Mission Rd.