2013 Map of Burnt Mesa

About this map

Navajo Reservoir and the Los Pinos River dominate this New Mexico landscape, where the terrain is deeply incised by a series of dramatic canyons including Cemetery Canyon, Mentzel Canyon, and Ulibarri Canyon. The map records a series of named homesteads or family localities, such as Garcia Place, Lucero Place, and Christopher Place, which are scattered across the high ground between the drainage systems. This distribution suggests a history of dryland ranching and isolated rural settlement patterns characteristic of San Juan County. Human alteration of the water system is evident through features like the Mentzel Ditch, which follows the contours of the higher elevations. These distinctively named 'places' provide excellent geographic markers for family researchers tracking residents in this corner of the state, while landmarks like Hole in Rock and Burnt Mesa define the local topography.