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2020 Map of Lower Colonias

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Lower Colonias
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

Upper Colonias and Lower Colonias sit at the center of this canyon landscape within the Santa Fe National Forest, where the high terrain of the Santa Fe Mountains meets the southern edges of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The settlement pattern here follows the drainage of Cow Creek and its many seasonal tributaries, with local history anchored by the Santo Niño Cemetery and the Pecos Barillas road network.

The map reveals a complex system of named canyons and ridges, such as Cañon de los Trigos and Ruidoso Ridge, that have long defined travel and land use in San Miguel County. Water sources are critical markers in this arid environment, evidenced by the clustered La Cueva Number One Spring and La Cueva Number Two Spring. High-altitude landmarks like Brazel Park and Cicuye Arch provide distinctive reference points for those tracing historical routes or family ties to these high mountain communities.