2017 Map of Montoso Peak

About this map

Santa Fe National Forest lands dominate this high-desert landscape in northern New Mexico, characterized by a complex network of volcanic peaks and arid drainage basins. The Caja del Rio Plateau serves as the central geographic feature, surrounded by prominent landmarks like Montoso Peak and Colorado Peak. Human impact in this dry environment is evidenced by a series of livestock water catchments including Tank Thirty-one, Tank Eighteen, and Tank Nineteen, which support grazing across the varied terrain. Significant erosion patterns are mapped through named drainages such as Arroyo Montoso and Arroyo Eighteen, which flow toward the deeper cut of Tetilla Canyon. The map also identifies local landmarks used for navigation and land management, such as Cerrito Pelado and the unusual geological depression at Tetilla Hole.