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1963 Map of Bonner Canyon

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Bonner Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The Continental Divide cuts across this high-elevation landscape within the Gila National Forest, defining the hydrological split of the American Southwest. The terrain is characterized by a complex network of drainages, including the deep Bonner Canyon and Black Canyon, where the prominent Black Canyon Box and Falls mark significant geographical breaks. In this arid environment, human presence is traced through water management features such as Me Own Tank, Meason Tank, Alligator Tank, and Polecat Tank, which likely served livestock or forest management needs during the early 1960s.

Local history and ranching activity are suggested by named areas like Rastus Flats and the Aspen Corral, tucked into the folds of the mountain landscape. The map also records several political boundaries, including the meeting of Catron, Sierra, and Grant counties. Notable peaks such as Spring Mountain, Me Own Hill, and Aspen Mtn rise above the canyons, providing a detailed look at the topography before later shifts in wilderness management or forest use changed the character of these high New Mexico ridges.