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1961 Map of Black Bluffs

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Black Bluffs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

Elephant Butte Reservoir dominates this landscape, showing its 1961 water levels and the complex fingers of the submerged Rio Grande valley. The map documents a critical transition point where the Alamosa River enters the reservoir near Elkins Ranch and the small settlement of Monticello. This area is defined by its deep canyon systems, including Cedar Canyon and Pinosa Canyon, which carve through the high ground west of the water.

Historical land tenure is prominently marked by the Pedro Armendaris No 33 Grant Boundary, reflecting the region's Spanish land grant heritage. Rugged features like the Black Bluffs and White Cliffs frame the eastern shore, while the western side is navigated via the Lakeshore Road and several remote landmarks such as the Chavez Windmill. This survey provides an essential look at the shoreline before modern developments altered the access and visibility of these landmarks.