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1963 Map of Bancos Mesa

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Bancos Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Carson National Forest land dominates this high-elevation landscape along the border of Archuleta and Rio Arriba counties. The topography is defined by massive formations such as Carracas Mesa and Middle Mesa, separated by a complex network of drainages including Eul Canyon and Cottonwood Canyon. Near the center of the sheet, the small settlement site of Recho de la Doncella sits in a sheltered area below Bancos Mesa.

The survey highlights the importance of water management in this arid terrain, showing several infrastructure points like Lug Tank, Box Tank, and Horse Tank, alongside natural features like Velazquez Spring. The northern edge is bounded by the San Juan River, while the southern portion transitions into Laguna Seca Mesa. Numerous canyons, such as Cabresto Canyon and Martinez Canyon, reveal a deeply dissected plateau where cattle tanks and a scattered Road network reflect the ranching and resource management of the early 1960s.