1995 Map of Jicarita Peak

About this map

Jicarita Peak rises as the central landmark of this high-elevation landscape within the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where the boundaries of Taos, Rio Arriba, and Mora counties converge. The terrain is defined by the sharp transition between the Carson National Forest and the Pecos Wilderness, a region marked by high alpine lakes and glacial cirques. Water sources like Serpent Lake, Horseshoe Lake, and North Fork Lake feed the headwaters of the Rio Santa Barbara, which flows northward through the Santa Barbara Grant. Historically significant transit is evidenced by a network of high-country routes including the Comales Trail and the West Fork Angostura Trail, providing access to peaks such as Peñascoso Mountain and Bear Mountain. The map details a sophisticated hydrological system, including the Rio Pueblo and the Rio Alamitos, that has sustained this high-altitude livestock and timber region for generations.