2020 Map of Benavidez Ranch

About this map

Rio Puerco meanders through the arid drainage of the Middle Puerco Valley, defining the central geography of this high-desert landscape. The terrain is characterized by the winding waterway and the northern reach of Cañada de los Canoncitos, a prominent drainage system cutting through the mesa country. Located in the southwestern portion of the map, the namesake Benavidez Ranch stands as a primary point of human settlement amidst the vast public and private land divisions. This 2020 edition captures the area's intricate land survey system, showing the boundary line between Sandoval Co and Bernalillo Co. The map illustrates how historic land use and ranching have adapted to the intermittent water sources and the physical challenges of the Western New Mexico badlands.