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2023 Map of Cerro Montoso

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Cerro Montoso
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

The Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge anchors the southern portion of this landscape, where the Los Pinos Mountains meet the high desert drainage systems of Socorro County. This terrain is defined by its vertical prominence and deep water-cut features, notably the heights of Cerro Montoso and Cerro Pelon. These peaks oversee a network of erosional landforms including Bootleg Canyon, Sepultura Canyon, and Montosa Draw.

The presence of isolated water sources like John Renlods Tank and Patterson Tank indicates a landscape primarily managed for livestock or wildlife conservation rather than permanent settlement. Movement through this arid region is constrained to specific corridors, such as Co RD 121 and the military-restricted routes of Wsmr S Route 3810 near the southern boundary. Distinctive landmarks like Red Mesa and Grey Ridge provide natural orientation points across this expansive reach of the Rio Grande valley basin.