1963 Map of Bearwallow Mountain

About this map

Bearwallow Mountain dominates this high-elevation portion of the Mogollon Mountains, a landscape defined by sharp drainages and scattered outposts within the Gila National Forest. In the early 1960s, the terrain was navigated primarily via a system of pack trails and jeep tracks, such as the Pack Trail winding through Dark Canyon and the path leading to the Lookout Tower atop the summit. Evidence of human presence is sparse but specific, with the Old Waterman Place and a Trailer Cabin marking small clearances in the dense network of canyons. The map tracks numerous water sources vital for forest management and ranching, including Lost Lake, Turkey Spring, and the Turkey Cienega. From Cooney Peak to the deep cut of Mineral Creek, the topography reveals the isolation and verticality of this southwestern New Mexico wilderness.