1971 Map of Emory Peak

About this map

Emory Peak stands as the high point of this high-desert landscape in the early 1970s, anchoring the heart of Big Bend National Park. The topography is defined by the massive volcanic uplifts of the Chisos and the Sierra Quemada, falling away sharply at the South Rim. This survey documents a transition from the historic cattle-ranching era to a protected wilderness, notably preserving the site of the Blue Creek Ranch and various Corrals scattered along the drainages. Water is the primary driver of movement and habitation here, with numerous vital points such as Cattail Springs, Boot Spring, and San Jacinto Spring linked by an extensive network of foot and horse paths. These include the Dodson Trail and several stretches of unnamed Pack Trail, reflecting how the terrain dictated transport long after the era of motorized travel began elsewhere.