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2001 Map of Gunsight Canyon

Name: 2001 Topographic Map of Gunsight Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2003
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2003

About this map

Lincoln National Forest and Carlsbad Caverns National Park meet in this landscape of steep drainage basins and high mesas along the New Mexico and Texas border. The terrain is defined by complex water systems, including the Black River and the branching canyon systems of Goat, Stone, and Gunsight Canyon. Human presence is marked by high-elevation infrastructure like the Dark Canyon Lookout and the Communication Site atop Guadalupe Ridge.

Lower elevations show evidence of ranching and early water management, featuring the Old Hepler Ranch, several Corral sites, and essential water sources such as Agua Dulce Seep, Thurman Tanks, and Helton Tank. Travel through the area is depicted by a network of unimproved roads and footpaths, most notably the Stairway Trail descending toward Calamity Cove. The map documents a transition from the protected cavern lands into the managed forest, with landmarks like Wild Cow Mesa and Lonesome Ridge framing the deep canyon cuts.