2023 Map of Five Lakes Canyon NE

About this map

Badland Hills and high desert plateaus dominate this section of the Jicarilla Apache territory, where the county line between Rio Arriba and Sandoval counties bisects the landscape. The drainage network is characterized by deep erosional features like Five Lakes Canyon, Medio Canyon, and Menfee Canyon, which funnel seasonal runoff toward Cañada Larga. The area's connectivity is defined by established Bureau of Indian Affairs routes, specifically Indian Svc Rte 20 and Indian Svc Rte 22, which navigate the complex topography. This modern survey illustrates the enduring rural character of this high-elevation region, where Arroyo Valles and Largo Creek shape the dry-land hydrology essential to the local environment and its inhabitants.