2020 Map of Kirtland

About this map

The San Juan River valley serves as the primary corridor for settlement and agriculture in this High Desert region west of Farmington. The landscape is defined by the vital Fruitland Irrigation Canal, which parallels the river and supports the communities of Kirtland and Upper Fruitland. To the south, the terrain rises sharply from the river bottom into a series of mesas and canyons, including the prominent Ojo Amarillo Canyon and the settlement of Ojo Amarillo. This topographical contrast highlights the reliance on river-fed irrigation systems in an otherwise arid environment characterized by features like Twin Mounds, Twin Mtn, and several drainage channels such as Dain Arroyo and Coolidge Arroyo. The road network, including W Main St and the Old Kirtland Hwy, traces the historical path of development along the northern bank of the river.