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2017 Map of La Madera

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of La Madera
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Rio Vallecitos serves as the central artery for this Rio Arriba County landscape, flowing south through a rugged canyon system that defines the local geography. The settlement of Vallecitos sits in the northern reaches of this valley, while La Madera marks the confluence where the river joins the Rio Tusas to form the Rio Ojo Caliente. This area, tucked within the Carson National Forest, reflects a traditional New Mexican pattern of valley-floor settlements situated between high terrain features like the Ortega Mountains and the Mesa de la Jarita.

Resource management is evident throughout the higher elevations, marked by features such as Ancones Tank, Ortega Tank, and Salt Lick Spring, which supported the livestock and forestry economy of the region. The map captures the complex system of canyons branching off the main river path, including Cañon de los Alamos and Cañon de la Paloma, illustrating the natural barriers and conduits that shaped transportation routes like the Jarita Mesa Rd.