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1971 Map of Bone Spring

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Bone Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The Rosillos Mountains dominate this high-desert landscape in Brewster County, anchored by the prominent Rosillo Peak. This 1971 survey illustrates a sparse and arid terrain defined by complex drainage systems and isolated water sources. The western edge of Big Bend National Park is visible, marked by an Indefinite Boundary that separates the protected parkland from the surrounding ranching country.

Hydrological features are the primary markers of human and animal activity in this environment. Named water points like Bone Spring, San Juan Spring, and an unnamed Spring provide critical resources, while a network of seasonal washes including Bone Spring Draw, Santiago Draw, and Nine Point Draw carve through the basin. This map captures the region before extensive modernization, showing a landscape where survival depended on these specific, named landmarks and reliable tanks.