2013 Map of Heron Reservoir

About this map

Heron Reservoir dominates the high-country terrain of Rio Arriba County, where the reservoir’s indented shoreline is shaped by the surrounding mesas and canyons. The Rio Chama flows through the southern portion of the quadrangle, carving a deep path toward the northern reaches of El Vado Reservoir. This landscape is characterized by its transition from high-desert plateaus to water-carved valleys, with Cañada de la Laguna and Horse Lake Cr feeding into the larger basin. While the western shore remains largely undeveloped near El Poso Ranch, the eastern and northern heights above the water show a network of residential and access roads, including Ladera del Sol and Bueno Vista Dr. The map illustrates the convergence of NM-95 and NM-112, which serve as the primary transit arteries connecting these remote highlands to the rest of northern New Mexico.