2010 Map of Cat Mountain

About this map

Cat Mountain and the high desert terrain of Otero County define this landscape at the edge of the Mescalero reservation. The map centers on a series of drainage networks and ephemeral water sources that were vital for cattle ranching in the region, including White Flat Tank and Aguilar Spring. The southern portion of the quadrangle is bisected by US Route 70, following the path of Tularosa Creek through a corridor between Round Mountain and the Coyote Hills. A network of canyons, most notably Tecolote Canyon and Rinconada Canyon, demonstrate the complex erosion patterns from the surrounding peaks. To the southeast, the site of Buck Camp sits near Apodaca Spring, marking a point of human activity within this arid environment where water sources like Maxwell Spring and Baca Spring provided the only reliable moisture for miles.