2010 Map of Castolon

About this map

The Rio Grande forms a sweeping international boundary through this high-desert region, where the Castolon Historic District preserves the remnants of an early 20th-century farming and trading outpost. This 2010 topographic record captures a landscape defined by ephemeral washes and rugged elevations like the Rattlesnake Mountains and Pena Mountain. Small, isolated settlements like Terlingua Abaja and Lunas are connected by narrow desert routes including the Castolon River Rd. Near the river's edge, the Cottonwood Campground and Santa Elena Canyon Lookout provide orientation for those navigating the dramatic transition into Santa Elena Canyon. The presence of the Coyote Cemetery and the confluence of Terlingua Creek and the Rio Grande highlight the area's long-standing human connection to these scarce water sources in Brewster County.