1971 Map of Canon Encierro

About this map

The Canadian River carves a deep path through the canyon lands of northeastern New Mexico, creating the dramatic Upper Horseshoe Bend as it winds through Harding and Mora counties. This 1971 survey highlights a network of remote canyons and high mesas, including Juan Maes Canon, Armenta Canon, and the namesake Cañon Encierro. The landscape is marked by evidence of early Hispanic and pioneer settlement, with family names preserved in features like Valle Romero and Los Mogotes. Small, isolated burial grounds such as Armenta Plaza Cem and Calvert Cem are key genealogical landmarks in this sparsely populated region. Rugged Jeep Trails provide the primary access to these canyons, while a lone Landing Strip suggests the immense distances and isolation characteristic of the high plains and river breaks during this era.