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2020 Map of Dillon Mountain

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Dillon Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

The San Francisco River cuts through this high-elevation corner of Catron County, where the borders of the Apache National Forest and Gila National Forest converge. The landscape is defined by its hydrothermal activity and ranching history, notably the Upper Frisco Hot Springs and Frisco Hot Spring located along the river. This terrain supported a network of specialized routes, including the Mail Trail and the Spur Ranch road, which historically connected isolated grazing lands and mountain homesteads.

Water management is a central feature of the area, evidenced by the numerous named stock tanks such as Joshua Tank, Shelby Tank, and Lily Patch Tank. From the heights of Dillon Mountain and Monument Mtn to the lowlands of Higgins Flat, the map reveals a rugged geography of deep canyons like Geronimo Canyon and Starkweather Canyon. These landforms dictate the passage through this part of the Gila Wilderness, where early transit routes followed the natural breaks of Frisco Divide.