2023 Map of Jaritas Ranch

About this map

The Canadian River carves a deep, sinuous path through the high plains of Northeast New Mexico, marking a natural boundary where Colfax, Mora, and Harding counties meet. This 2023 survey documents a remote landscape dominated by ranching and conservation, including a portion of the Kiowa National Grassland at the southern edge of the sheet. Tributaries like Ocate Creek and the Jaritas Arroyo cut additional drainages through the terrain, creating localized relief such as Dog Canyon and Lodge Canyon. These geological features historically served as critical landmarks for navigation and cattle movement across the shortgrass prairie. Sparse infrastructure like Cross Canes Ranch Ln and Co Rd C-35 provides the only modern access to these canyonlands, while Gato Springs suggests the vital importance of scattered water sources in this arid environment.