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2023 Map of Bixler Ranch

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Bixler Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Carson National Forest land dominates this high-altitude landscape in Rio Arriba County, defined by a complex network of canyons and mesas within the San Juan Basin. The terrain is characterized by massive landforms such as American Mesa and Mestenas Mesa, which are dissected by deep drainages including Chicosa Canyon and Cabresto Canyon. One of the most distinctive geological features is the Hole-in-the-Rock-Dike, a prominent rock formation in the northeastern portion of the sheet.

Water management is central to the history of this arid ranching country, evidenced by numerous named stock tanks and catchment points like Chicosa Tank, Preacher Tank, and Rincon Tank. These features, along with Bancos Lake and Mud Spring, illustrate the infrastructure required to sustain life and livestock across the rugged topography of Chicosa Ridge and the various canyons that define the San Juan Basin borderlands.