Loading map...

2020 Map of El Dado

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

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

The high desert landscape of McKinley County is defined by a network of ephemeral water sources and distinctive geological formations, including Sombrero Alto and the prominent White Mesa. Settlement is sparse, anchored by the localities of Leon and El Dado, with the latter situated near El Dado Spring. This arid environment necessitated the naming of numerous vital water points such as Coal Mine Spring, Salazar Spring, and Peña Springs, reflecting a reliance on natural groundwater for ranching and survival in the region.

Evidence of historical habitation and natural landmarks are scattered across the terrain, most notably at Cliff Dwelling Canyon and the uniquely shaped Piedra Camello. The drainage patterns of the San Isidro Arroyo and Arroyo Chico dictate the movement across the land, connected by a few rural routes like Co RD 19 and Indian Rte 7028. From the high point of Aguja to the depths of Mulatto Canyon, the map provides a record of land use where names like Brown Tank and Laguna Abeyta mark essential human interventions in a dry landscape.