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2016 Map of Cave Mesa

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Cave Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The Glass Mountains define the high-desert topography of this remote Trans-Pecos landscape along the border of Pecos and Brewster counties. This 2016 survey highlights the significant reliance on seasonal water management in a region where natural drainage is ephemeral, evidenced by naming conventions like North Tank, Rooney Tank, and Hackberry Tank. These livestock tanks are critical fixtures scattered among prominent landforms such as Cave Mesa and Panther Mesa.

Drainage systems like Burnt House Creek cut through deep relief, creating the distinctive Burnt House Canyon. Human infrastructure is sparse, limited primarily to cattle ranching operations and unpaved routes like Mills Road that navigate the slopes between N Mountain and Pine Mesa. The map provides a detailed view of the rugged West Texas ranching economy and the geological formations of the northern reaches of the Glass Mountains.