2023 Map of Hembrillo Basin

About this map

Victorio Peak and the surrounding Hembrillo Basin dominate this high-desert landscape within the White Sands Missile Range. This terrain, situated where the Sierra and Doña Ana county line crosses the San Andres Mountains, is defined by its strategic passes and scarce water sources. Notable water features like Cottonwood Spring, Upper Hembrillo Spring, and the man-made CCC Tank suggest the historic reliance on these few points of hydration in an otherwise arid environment. The presence of Hembrillo Pass and Hembrillo Canyon indicates natural corridors used for movement across the range, while modern infrastructure is represented by the restricted access of WSMR S Route 306. This map illustrates the complex intersection of natural geology and modern military land use.