2013 Map of La Madera

About this map

Vallecitos and La Madera anchor this northern New Mexico landscape, where high-country drainage systems converge at the edge of the Carson National Forest. The mapping reveals a distinct pattern of small settlements and ranching outposts, such as Rancho de Trujillo and Rancho de Olguin, following the life-giving waters of the Rio Vallecitos. Southward, the terrain shifts into the Ortega Mountains and toward the confluence that forms the Rio Ojo Caliente. Mining history is evidenced by the Laura Crystal Prospect and Paloma Canyon Prospect, tucked away in the rugged canyons. Throughout the area, specialized water management is noted through features like the Burma Trick Tank and Ancones Trick Tank, essential for sustaining livestock in the high-desert mesa country of Mesa de la Jarita.