1968 Map of Avra

About this map

Saguaro National Monument anchors the landscape in this late 1960s survey, showing the protected desert terrain of the Tucson Mts as they overlook the Avra Valley. The map records a period of transition where traditional mining and ranching infrastructure coexists with emerging recreational and conservation uses. Scattered industrial sites like the Busterville Mine, Mile-Wide Mine, and a large Quarry near Twin Peaks contrast with established homesteads such as the M-Z Bar Ranch and Rancho de Esperanza. The network of trails, including the Hugh Norris Trail and King Canyon Trail, reveals how the area was becoming a destination for hikers and visitors, supported by the Red Hills Information Center and several dedicated picnic grounds like the Ez-Kim-In-Zin Picnic Area.