1963 Map of Borrego Pass

About this map

Continental Divide winds through this high-altitude landscape in McKinley County, marking a fundamental geological boundary between the region's vast drainages. In this mid-century survey, the high plateaus and deep arroyos define the character of the terrain, with Mesa de Jaramillo dominating the southern reaches. The settlement of Borrego Pass serves as a primary local landmark, situated amidst a network of unimproved dirt roads that navigate the complex topography. Evidence of ranching and remote habitation is present at Albers Ranch near the spring at Ojo del Chopo. The map meticulously details the canyon systems that carve through the mesa country, including the prominent Cañon Largo and the winding Cañada Marcelina, providing a clear record of the area's physical geography and limited human footprint during the early 1960s.