1955 Map of Boulder Lake

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this high-altitude landscape in Rio Arriba County, marking the transition between the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation and the Santa Fe National Forest. This mid-century survey captures a network of livestock infrastructure and water management, evidenced by the Burford Lake Wildlife Station and the Puerto Chiquito Windmill. The terrain is defined by deep incisions like Telephone Canyon and Cisneros Canyon, while numerous natural and man-made water features dot the high plains, including Boulder Lake and the eastern edge of the El Vado Reservoir. Many of these names, such as Stinking Lake (Burford Lake) and Puerta Thompson Lake, suggest a landscape shaped by seasonal ranching and the complex property boundaries of the Tierra Amarilla Grant.