2021 Map of Las Guijas

About this map

Altar Valley serves as the central landscape of this Pima County region, where the drainages of the Las Guijas Mountains converge into a network of desert washes. Small ranching settlements like Secundino and Las Guijas dot the landscape, connected by the arterial routes of S Sasabe Rd and Arivaca Rd. The reliance on water management in this arid environment is evident through a high density of named stock tanks, including Tequila Tank, Lindberg Tank, and Boice Tank, which are strategically placed near natural watercourses such as Arivaca Wash and Santa Margarita Wash. This mapping reveals a sophisticated desert infrastructure designed for cattle and transit, with long-standing family and place names like Cordova Tank and Tiohuerrro Tank marking the territory. The convergence of Arivaca Cr and San Luis Wash in the southern reaches highlights the geographic importance of seasonal flow to the area's survival.