1970 Map of Coyote Canyon NW

About this map

Water sources define the geography of the Navajo Indian Reservation in this 1970 survey. The landscape is etched by seasonal drainages like Salt Springs Wash and Tocito Wash, which serve as the primary topographical markers in this arid stretch of McKinley County. For genealogists and local historians, the specific naming of remote watering points provides essential context for land use and habitation patterns. Numerous named springs are documented, including White Water Spring, Piñon Spring, Loca Spring, and Buffalo Springs. Human infrastructure is sparse but critical, evidenced by the Gallup Pumping Sta and its associated pipeline, as well as a Radio Facility located near Willow Reed Spring. The map captures a moment when traditional Navajo territory relied heavily on these scattered natural and engineered water points.