2020 Map of Massacre Peak

About this map

Massacre Peak rises as a central landmark within the Cookes Range, anchoring a landscape defined by its historical transit corridors and isolated water sources. This portion of Luna County preserves the path of the Butterfield Trl, a vital mid-19th-century overland mail route that skirted the base of the Pony Hills. The convergence of terrain and history is most evident near Cookes Spring, where the presence of the Fort Cummings Cem and Fort Cummings Draw marks the site of an important frontier military post established to protect travelers. To the southwest, Fluorite Ridge stands apart from the main range, while numerous intermittent drainages like Starvation Draw and China Draw illustrate the arid nature of the high desert environment. The map details a network of ranching and access roads, including Hidden Valley Rd, which navigate the complex topography of Fryingpan Canyon and Cookes Canyon.