2011 Map of El Paso Gap

About this map

El Paso Gap serves as a critical point of passage in this arid landscape, where the Queens Hwy and County RD 415 intersect amidst a series of prominent ridges and canyons. The distribution of family-named ranching outposts, including Hughes Ranch, Magby Ranch, and McCollum Ranch, indicates a long-standing pattern of pastoral land use in Otero County. Resource management in this dry environment is evident through numerous named water catchments such as Jackson Tank, Hollan Tank, and Kuykendal Tank, alongside natural features like Black River Spring. The eastern edge of the quadrangle reveals industrial history with the Guadalupe Mine, while the southern reaches transition into higher elevations near Camp Wilderness Ridge. The area is defined by sharp topographic shifts, ranging from the depths of Devils Den Canyon to the heights of Panorama Peak and Plowman Peak.