2020 Map of Cerro

About this map

Sunshine Valley and the western slopes of the Taos Mountains define this high-altitude landscape in Taos County. The settlement pattern is anchored by small communities like Cerro and El Rito, which are sustained by an intricate network of irrigation features including the Sunshine Canal, Cerro Community Ditch, and Main Lateral. This irrigation system reveals the agricultural foundations of the region, where water is diverted from mountain sources to the valley floor. To the east, the terrain rises sharply into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, home to prominent summits such as Virsylvia Peak and Cabresto Peak within the Carson National Forest. For genealogists and local historians, the presence of Latir Cem and El Cerro Cem provides important points for tracing family lineages in these enduring rural settlements.