1999 Map of Middle Mesa

About this map

Gila National Forest encompasses this high-altitude landscape at the meeting point of Catron, Grant, and Sierra counties. The terrain is defined by massive plateaus like Middle Mesa and Tom Moore Mesa, which are separated by deep drainages such as Black Canyon and South Diamond Creek. The intersection of the Gila Wilderness and the Aldo Leopold Wilderness highlights the region's preservation, where the only human infrastructure consists of backcountry ranching and forest management sites. The Me-Own Administrative Site, accompanied by its own Landing Strip and Heliport, serves as a critical operational hub in this roadless environment. Numerous stock tanks, including Horse Pasture Tank and Tom Moore Tank, indicate the ongoing utility of these protected lands for grazing, while the Community Pasture Trail and Burnt Mountain Trail provide the primary means of navigation through the canyons.