2013 Map of Cerro Prieto

About this map

Flattop Mesa and Hawkins Peak dominate the high-desert landscape of this West-Central New Mexico region, where the border between Cibola and Catron counties cuts through a series of dramatic draws and volcanic formations. The land is defined by a sparse but vital network of water improvements and cattle operations, evidenced by the numerous named landmarks such as Martinez Windmill, Taylor Windmill, and Apodaca Windmill. These features indicate the persistent reliance on groundwater in an arid environment shaped by seasonal drainages like Puertocito Draw and Pascual Draw. Local ranching history is etched into the map through family-named sites including Hubbell Ranch, Montano Ranch, and Browns Ranch. The prominence of the namesake Cerro Prieto volcanic peak serves as a central navigational anchor for this rugged ranching country, where unpaved routes like Hubbell Rd and CO Road AD36 provide the primary connections between isolated homesteads and seasonal water sources like Garcia Lake.