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2023 Map of Black Bluffs

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

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Elephant Butte Reservoir dominates this high-desert landscape, where the Rio Grande carves a path through distinctive geological formations. The northern reach of the reservoir is defined by The Narrows, a constriction flanked by Mitchell Point and the striking White Cliffs. This modern survey reveals a network of roads and trails, such as Monticello Point Rd and Lakeshore Rd, that navigate the jagged shoreline and deep drainages like Hellion Canyon and Pinosa Canyon.

Evidence of local land management appears west of the main waterway at Blander Reservoir Number One, while the eastern shore remains characterized by the namesake Black Bluffs and Red Cliff. The intersection of drainage systems like Alamosa Creek and the reservoir's fingers at North Monticello Point demonstrates the varied hydrology of Sierra County, captured at a moment when development is beginning to trace the ridges overlooking the water.