2017 Map of Cow Canyon

About this map

The small settlement of Palomas sits at the southern edge of this high-desert landscape, where the flat-topped Mesa Rica dominates the northern horizon. The terrain is defined by a series of dramatic incisions through the mesa and plateau, most notably Cow Canyon and Vigil Canyon, which feed into the meandering course of Pajarito Creek. This map captures a ranching environment where water management is critical; numerous livestock tanks such as Kauffman Tank, Primo Tank, and South Privo Tank are scattered across the township and range sections. The county line between San Miguel Co and Quay Co cuts diagonally across the northwestern corner, following a boundary that separates the rugged breaks of Hondo Canyon from the drainages of Johnson Cr. For local historians, the map preserves the specific locations of these named tanks and arroyos, such as Arroyo de las Palomas, reflecting decades of land use in this part of New Mexico.