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1963 Map of Kettner Canyon

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Kettner Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this high-altitude landscape of the Cibola National Forest, defining a region where water and relief dictate the geography of movement. Deep incisions such as Kettner Canyon and Camp Seven Canyon cut through the rugged Lookout Mountain Rim, while lower elevations provide small clearing areas like Dinner Park and Rice Park. Local history is marked by the presence of Ruins and the Johnny Mack Corral, suggesting seasonal livestock use or older habitation long before modern surveys.

The central Oso Mountains and Zuni Ridge are punctuated by landmarks like Little Notch and The Notches, natural passes used to traverse the difficult terrain. Water sources are vital but scattered, with Bluewater Creek and various seasonal outlets like Wells Spring and Muerto Spring providing the only reliable hydration in this arid upland environment. This mid-century survey, revised with early 1980s data, documents a landscape largely unchanged by urbanization, dominated by drainage systems like Muerto Canyon and Pipkin Canyon.