1986 Map of Caliente Canyon South

About this map

The Beaubien and Miranda and Maxwell Grant lands define this northern New Mexico territory during the mid-1980s. This survey documents a deeply incised landscape where the Vermejo River flows through the southern reaches, fed by an intricate network of drainages such as Caliente Canyon and Prairie Dog Canyon. The naming of features like Ben Thompson Canyon and Mercer Canyon suggests the ranching and pioneer history inherent to Colfax County. These numerous side canyons, including Sawmill Canyon and Five Dollar Canyon, illustrate how the drainage patterns dictated movement and settlement within these historic land grant boundaries. The map provides a detailed record of the unimproved roads and trails that traverse this area, highlighting the spatial relationship between the highland terrain and the essential watercourses.