1999 Map of Maverick Mountain

About this map

Columbia Mine and the Royal John Mine mark the industrial history of this section of the Gila National Forest, where the border between Sierra and Grant counties bisects a landscape defined by deep canyons and high peaks. The terrain is characterized by a series of significant drainages such as Gallinas Canyon, Wilson Canyon, and Donahue Canyon, which carve through the elevations between Maverick Mountain and Seven Brothers Mountain. Water management in this high-desert environment is evidenced by a network of tanks and wells, including Twin Calf Tank, Hot Springs Well, and Watson Well, which supported livestock and small-scale operations. The presence of Little Gallinas Canyon and the Tierra Blanca Creek headwaters underscores the complex hydrology that historically sustained both mining ventures and ranching interests in this remote part of New Mexico.