1978 Map of Dennis Canyon

About this map

Middle Mesa and Black Mesa define the high tablelands of this Las Animas County landscape as it was documented in the late 1970s. The geography is characterized by a complex network of erosional drainages including Dennis Canyon, Sheep Pen Canyon, and Deer Canyon, which carve deeply into the sandstone layers of the Mesa de Maya. Water is the primary driver of life and nomenclature in this arid reach of Colorado, evidenced by critical water sources like Middle Spring and the drainage of Water Creek. The map provides a precise record of the topography before modern developments, showing the flow of West Carrizo Creek through the northern sections and the isolated canyons such as Miller Canyon and Flathead Canyon to the south. This survey preserves the exact placement of remote springs and fencing lines across the mesa tops.