Loading map...

1940 Map of Carlsbad Caverns West

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Carlsbad Caverns West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The Guadalupe Mountains area reveals a complex subterranean landscape in this 1940 survey, punctuated by numerous named caverns and springs. Features such as Ogle Cave, New Cave, and Midnight Cave are recorded alongside the sprawling drainage systems of Slaughter Canyon and Dark Canyon. The settlement pattern is defined by isolated ranching outposts like Queen Ranch and Thayer Ranch, reflecting the era's reliance on localized water sources such as Kirkland Spring and the School Section Water Hole.

Public use of the terrain is evident at the Sitting Bull Falls Recreational Area, where Sitting Bull Falls provides a rare perennial water feature. To the south, the topography descends toward the Black River as it approaches the border between Eddy Co and Culberson Co. This map captures a specific moment in New Mexico's land management, detailing early fire prevention infrastructure like the Dark Canyon Lookout and the small Queen Cemetery.