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1966 Map of Cerro Negro

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Cerro Negro
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The Santa Fe Trail (Mountain Route) traverses this high-altitude landscape in Mora County, following the historical paths of 19th-century trade and migration. This mid-1960s survey documents a network of trails and pioneer routes, including the Wagon Mound Cutoff, which weave through a terrain defined by volcanic peaks and high mesas. The prominence of Cerro Negro and Cerro del Oro—the latter featuring a Cinder Pit—underscores the region's geologic character and industrial utility.

Settlement patterns appear sparse but significant, centered on the Gallinas Camp Diamond A Ranch and the small locality of Encinosa. Water sources like the Ojo de las Gallinas and Gallinas Creek provide the lifeblood for this ranching country, while the southern edge is dominated by the dense slopes of the Turkey Mountains. For historians and genealogists, these detailed fence lines and family-named landmarks like McLemar Canyon offer a clear look at land usage and ranch boundaries during this era.