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1963 Map of Hay Mesa

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Hay Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Gila National Forest land defines the high-altitude landscape of this 1963 survey, where the Continental Divide Pack Trail follows the ridgelines through the Black Range. The map details a sophisticated network of water management for livestock and wildlife, featuring several named tanks such as Lincoln Tank, Kelly Tank, and Hay Mesa Tank. These artificial water sources were essential for sustaining ranching and grazing operations in the arid New Mexico mountains.

The Mimbres River and its South Fork carve deep drainages through the terrain, flanked by notable peaks like Aspen Mtn and Rocky Point. Numerous canyons, including McKnight Canyon and Hettner Canyon, provide a look at the natural drainage patterns of Hay Mesa. The presence of landmarks like Signboard Saddle and various pack trails indicates how travelers and forest rangers navigated these remote reaches before modern road development was fully realized.