Loading map...

2023 Map of Massacre Peak

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Massacre Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Fort Cummings stands as a focal point of historical interest in this arid Luna County landscape, marking a vital water source and defensive position along the western frontier. The presence of the Fort Cummings Cem nearby offers a poignant link for genealogists studying the soldiers and travelers who passed through this corridor. The terrain is defined by the sharp elevations of the Cookes Range, where Massacre Peak looms over a series of rugged canyons and draws.

Transportation history is etched into the desert floor by the Butterfield Trl, a route that once carried mail and passengers across the Southwest. This survey details the complex topography surrounding Cookes Spring, an essential desert oasis. To the southwest, the distinctive geology of Fluorite Ridge and the Pony Hills reveals the varied landscape of the high desert, while seasonal drainages like Rattlesnake Canyon and Starvation Draw shape the drainage patterns of the region.