Loading map...

1971 Map of Fishers Peak

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Fishers Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Fishers Peak dominates this high-altitude landscape in Las Animas County, where the topography transitions from the dramatic Little Fishers Peak Mesa down toward the valley floor. The map documents the extensive Beaubien and Miranda (Maxwell) land grant, a massive historical tract that influenced local property and settlement patterns for generations. A network of names associated with water sources—including Pearl Spring, Cassiddys Spring, and Sager Spring—points to the critical importance of reliable water in this arid ranching and mining country.

Industrial activity is evident along the southwestern edge, where the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad runs parallel to Ratón Creek. Nearby, the presence of the Grave Mines and a Gas Well highlights the region's historical reliance on mineral extraction. The rugged terrain is further articulated by deep drainages like Nile Canyon and Schwachheim Creek, while numerous jeep trails and family-named features like McBride and Segerstrom suggest a landscape used primarily for grazing and resource development in the early 1970s.