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1964 Map of Bay Buck Peaks

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Bay Buck Peaks
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

Cibola National Forest defines the landscape of this mid-1960s survey, showing a high-altitude wilderness in Socorro County. The terrain is characterized by a dense network of drainages and prominent summits, most notably Alexander Mountain and the eponymous Bay Buck Peaks. These features are cut by deep, descriptive watercourses such as Bear Trap Canyon, Burnt Chimney Canyon, and Sawmill Canyon, which hint at the region's historical land use and natural hazards.

Remote water management is evident through isolated improvements like Bitter Creek Tank and Baney Park Tank, essential for supporting livestock and wildlife in this arid upland. The map meticulously tracks the complex hydrology of the San Mateo Mountains, from Whitewater Canyon to smaller features like Indian Draw and Spring Hollow Canyon. For researchers and historians, the map preserves the exact placement of named landmarks and canyons as they were recognized by the U.S. Forest Service during a period of active land management and photogrammetric advancement.