2019 Map of Bowdish Canyon

About this map

McElmo Canyon dominates this high desert landscape in Montezuma County, where deep incisions into the earth reveal a complex network of drainages and elevated plateaus. The topography is defined by prominent landforms such as Cannon Ball Mesa and Hamilton Mesa, which rise above the surrounding canyons and basins. Water courses, including McElmo Cr and its tributaries like Littlewater Cr, have carved through the sandstone to create features like Echo Canyon and Rincon Canyon. The map reveals a remote area primarily accessed by rural routes such as Co RD G and Indian RD. This 2019 survey provides an intricate look at the natural boundaries and elevation changes of the Bluewater Basin and the winding course of Bowdish Canyon, highlighting a region where the geological structure dictates the sparse pattern of modern human transit.