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1972 Map of Emery Peak

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Emery Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Emery Gap sits at the northern edge of this high-altitude landscape, marking a critical passage for the Colorado and Southern railroad as it crosses the border between New Mexico and Colorado. The terrain is defined by dramatic mesas and deep drainages, including the broad heights of Negro Mesa and River Mesa. This 1970s survey captures the region's ranching and transit infrastructure, where a network of trails and roads navigate the steep topography of Toll Gate Canyon and Gleasons Canyon.

Water management and seasonal flow are central to the area's geography, characterized by the Dry Cimarron River and its various tributaries like Sumpters Canyon and Oak Creek. The presence of several named peaks, such as Devoys Peak and the namesake Emery Peak, provides clear landmarks for those studying the surveyor's lines and the intersection of Las Animas and Union counties. This map serves as a detailed record of the borderlands just as modern transportation corridors were being formalized over older pioneer routes.