1979 Map of Chinati Peak

About this map

Chinati Peak towers over this section of the High Desert in Presidio County, providing a dominant landmark for the isolated ranches and watering holes of the Trans-Pecos. The landscape is defined by the steep relief of the Chinati Mountains, where narrow drainages like Pinto Canyon and Mayo Canyon cut through the terrain. Human presence is sparse but concentrated around essential water sources and resource extraction, including the San Antonio Mine and several water-retention features known as presas, such as Presa Llorona and Presa Viruelas. Remote habitations like Chaffin Place and Wood Ranch rely on a network of primitive transportation, from a lonely Landing Strip to numerous pack trails and jeep tracks. The presence of a small Cem near the northern boundary and the Ojo Bonito settlement reflect the enduring, if scattered, history of cattle ranching and silver mining in this arid borderlands region.