2016 Map of Little Pine Canyon

About this map

Velasquez Plaza and the neighboring settlements of Sarcillo and Segundo anchor the northern edge of this high-plateau landscape, where the Purgatoire River carves through the Picketwire Valley. This 2016 survey documents a terrain dominated by complex drainage systems that feed into the river basin from the surrounding Park Plateau. The naming of numerous canyons, such as Jeff Canyon, Lorencito Canyon, and Pentitente Canyon, suggests a history of localized land use and exploration within the deep folds of the Ute Hills. To the south, the map reveals a remote and dissected topography, where the Right Hand Fork Martinez Canyon and Left Hand Fork Oso Canyon illustrate the intricate watercourse patterns that define this section of Las Animas County. The concentration of settlements along the narrow river corridor contrasts sharply with the vast, unnamed expanses of the southern canyon lands.