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2016 Map of Johnson Canyon

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Johnson Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Purgatoire River meanders through the northwest corner of this Las Animas County landscape, carving the deep Purgatoire Canyon through the high plains. The territory is defined by an intricate network of drainage systems, including Chacuaco Cr and numerous named canyons like Johnson Canyon, Umbrella Canyon, and Whitewater Canyon. This topography created natural basins and enclosures known locally as pockets, such as Seven D Pocket and Bar Four Pocket, which historically served as manageable grazing areas for livestock in a complex vertical environment.

Evidence of local habitation and utility is scattered across the township lines, notably at the Johnson Cem and the Jecan Airport in the south-central portion of the map. Roadways like Co RD 159.1 and Co RD 54 provide the primary access to these remote ranching and grazing lands. The presence of Barlet Spring highlights the critical importance of reliable water sources in this arid, dissected plateau.