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2023 Map of Carracas Canyon

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Carracas Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Carracas Mesa and American Mesa dominate this high-desert landscape in northern New Mexico, characterized by a complex network of deep drainages and ridges within the Carson National Forest. The geography is defined by narrow, winding waterways such as Carracas Canyon, Gurule Canyon, and La Chamisalosa Canyon, which carve through the plateau towards the southern border. High points like Frijoles Peak overlook the Los Cuates Basin, where the isolated Los Cuates Pond provides a rare water source in the arid terrain.

Industrial and forest management access is marked by Forest Rd 312 and Rosa #288, cutting across the mesas. The presence of features like Ed Ladd Lake and Santiago Pond suggests a landscape managed for both wildlife and livestock within the national forest boundaries. This survey captures the remote character of the Rio Arriba backcountry, illustrating the topographical relief between Estufa Ridge and the many canyons that define the region's hydrology.