2017 Map of Cerro Alesna

About this map

Cerro Alesna stands as the central landmark of this McKinley County landscape, where the arid high country of the Cibola National Forest is defined by a complex network of canyons and arroyos. The drainage patterns of San Lucas Canyon and San Miguel Canyon illustrate a terrain reliant on seasonal water and scattered perennial sources. Vital water points for travelers and livestock are documented through numerous named features such as San Lucas Spring, San Miguel Spring, and the uniquely named Sap Hole Spring. The eastern portion of the quadrangle is traversed by the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, which winds through the hills south of Los Barreales Lake. Historical footprints are suggested by Fort Miguel Ruins Spring, indicating earlier habitation or military presence near the headwaters of San Miguel Cr in this sparsely populated region of northwestern New Mexico.