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2002 Map of Lower Colonias

Name: 2002 Topographic Map of Lower Colonias
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2003
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2003

About this map

Cow Creek carves a deep valley through this portion of the Santa Fe National Forest, where the mountain settlements of Lower Colonias and Upper Colonias sit along its banks. The terrain is defined by a dense network of canyons, including Cañon del Apache and Cañon de los Trigos, which drain the high elevations of Ruidoso Ridge.

Evidence of local heritage is centered around the Santo Niño Cem near the river, while the presence of the Honey Boy Ranch and Flying Cloud Ranch indicates a landscape shaped by high-country ranching. These small enclaves are connected by primitive 4wd routes that navigate the steep breaks between the mesas and the creek. The map also records several important water sources in this arid environment, such as the Apache Spring and the Cañon de la Cueva No. 1 Spring.