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1963 Map of Los Pinos

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Los Pinos
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad corridor defines the northern reach of this landscape, winding through the high country along the Colorado and New Mexico state line. This 1963 field-checked survey captures the rail-side infrastructure of the era, including a water tower at Lava and a gaging station along the Rio de los Pinos. The small settlements of Ortiz and Los Pinos sit near the river confluence, serving as touchstones for the high-altitude ranching and transit history of Rio Arriba County.

Rising above the river valleys, the terrain transitions into the high-elevation woodlands of the Carson National Forest and the broad expanse of Mesa Pinabete. Significant water features like Laguna Larga and the seasonal Dry Lake are mapped alongside a network of primitive routes, including a prominent jeep trail and the winding Cañada de los Ranchos. This map is a clear record of the geographic isolation and specialized infrastructure required for mountain transit and resource management in the mid-twentieth century.