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1972 Map of Doss Canyon North

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Doss Canyon North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Purgatoire River carves a winding path through this corner of Las Animas County, creating a complex network of side canyons that define the local geography. These deep drainage systems, including Doss Canyon and Lockwood Canyon, reveal a landscape shaped by intermittent water and erosion. The presence of several family or place-named features like Taylor Canyon and Alejandro Canyon suggests a history of ranching or early land claims tied to these specific riparian corridors.

Evidence of human activity is sparse but strategic, with a lone Landing Strip and various Jeep Trails providing the primary access through the plateaus above the river. Smaller tributaries such as Dead Horse Canyon and Little Pine Canyon join the main river valley, illustrating the high-desert drainage patterns. The 1984 photorevisions captured in purple indicate minor updates to the terrain and access routes, reflecting subtle changes in the area decades after the initial 1971 aerial survey.