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2023 Map of El Paso Gap

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of El Paso Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

DeMoss Cem sits as a quiet landmark in this high-altitude landscape where the boundary between Otero and Eddy counties meets. The area is defined by massive limestone formations and deep drainage systems, including the dramatic drop-off known as The Rim and the winding depths of North McKittrick Canyon. Water is the primary driver of human movement here, evidenced by numerous man-made catchments like Kuykendall Tank and Effendale Tank, which support cattle and wildlife across the Shattuck Valley.

Transitioning from the managed timberlands of the Lincoln National Forest into the preserved reaches of the Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness, the map traces a network of high ridges such as Guadalupe Ridge and Lonesome Ridge. Transportation is limited to a few arterial routes like Queens Hwy and the rugged Scenic Drive, alongside historic paths like the Indian Trl and North McKittrick Canyon Trl, reflecting a region where the terrain dictates the pace of travel.