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1967 Map of La Espia Peak

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of La Espia Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The Pecos River carves a central path through this arid portion of De Baca County, defining a landscape of complex drainage systems and isolated cattle operations in the late 1960s. The Van Eaton Ranch stands as a primary point of habitation amidst a network of deep-cut breaks, including Blanco Canyon and Wildcat Canyon to the north. These drainages reveal the erosional patterns typical of the region, where water moves from high mesas toward the river valley through landmarks such as Rock Canyon and Arroyo de la Mora.

Strategic water sources, vital for ranching in this environment, are meticulously noted with features like Hilltop Well and East Tank. The terrain is anchored by the prominent La Espia Peak, which overlooks the winding Arroyo Araña and the lower basin of Wylie Draw. This survey captures the infrastructure of the High Plains ranching economy, where fencelines and windmills are the primary indicators of human presence on the land.