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1941 Map of Heuco Mountains

Name: 1941 Topographic Map of Heuco Mountains
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Hueco Mountains straddle the boundary between El Paso and Hudspeth County, forming a landscape where survival depended on the strategic placement of dozens of catchment systems. This 1941 survey records the reliance on isolated water sources like Hackberry Tank, Nine-mile Tank, and Walbridge Tanks, essential for ranching operations such as Helms Ranch and the travelers stopping at the Hueco Inn. The terrain is marked by prominent peaks including Cerro Alto Mtn and Deer Mtn, which provided landmarks for early travelers along the historic Butterfield Trail.

Transportation corridors dominate the east-west passage, with the modern Carlsbad Highway running south of the Old White Road. A glimpse into mid-century aviation infrastructure is visible with the Airway Beacon positioned near the highway. The map also captures the seasonal nature of the environment through features like the large Lake Bed and numerous named canyons such as Hackberry Canyon and Phone Line Canyon.