2011 Map of Cerro Tinaja

About this map

Juan Jose Ranch and Sanchez Ranch anchor this high-desert landscape in Sandoval County, illustrating the persistence of land-grant legacies and family ranching in northern New Mexico. The terrain is defined by dramatic mesas and volcanic features, including the prominent Cerro Tinaja and the dark profile of Black Mesa. These elevations are carved by deep drainage systems like Jaramosa Canyon and Badlands Canyon, which reveal the complex geology of the Jemez region. Critical water sources, such as Rancho Viejo Spring and Ojo Canoa, dictate the placement of human activity and livestock grazing in this arid environment. The map provides a detailed view of the winding trackways and traditional land uses at Rancho Viejo and the Gonzales Ranch, where the names of mesas like Mesita de la Ventana and Mesita Leon reflect a long history of local geographic naming.