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2019 Map of Horse Range Mesa

Name: 2019 Topographic Map of Horse Range Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2019
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2019

About this map

The Dolores River carves a deep path through the high desert of San Miguel County, creating a landscape defined by dramatic elevation changes and named landforms. To the north, Island Mesa and the Grassy Hills dominate the high ground above Mc Intyre Canyon, while the central portion of the map is occupied by the extensive Horse Range Mesa. Rare water sources in this arid environment are marked by the Horse Range Spring, a vital point in a territory otherwise shaped by dry washes and canyons such as Nicholas Wash and Cougar Canyon.

Evidence of human movement and early ranching history is visible in the network of county roads, including Co RD 55 and Co RD 9y, which navigate the plateaus. Notable landmarks such as the Slick Rock Bridge and Slick Rock Hill provide specific points of reference for local historians, while broad areas like Poverty Flat and Hanks Pocket suggest the historical grazing patterns of the region. The southern edge of the survey transitions into the deep cuts of Summit Canyon and Morrison Canyon near Summit Point.