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1971 Map of Cerro Castellan

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Cerro Castellan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Big Bend National Park protects a landscape of striking geological formations and sparse desert water sources documented in this early 1970s field study. The area is dominated by the volcanic silhouette of Cerro Castellan and the iconic twin Mule Ear Peaks, which served as critical landmarks for travelers navigating the Chihuahuan Desert. Human presence is marked by unnamed Ruins near Tule Spring, hinting at the difficult ranching and subsistence history of the region before the park's establishment.

Hydrology is central to the movement across this terrain, with Smoky Creek and Blue Creek carving through the land near features like Tuff Canyon. A network of pack trails, including the Chimneys Trail (Pack) and various unnamed Pack Trails, connects remote overlooks such as Sotol Vista Overlook and Mule Ears Overlook. These paths link reliable water points like Mule Ear Spring and Burro Spring, which were vital hubs for both native wildlife and early settlers in the shadow of the Chisos Mountains.