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1965 Map of Moon Ranch

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Moon Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

Leopold Vista (Historical Monument) stands as a landmark of conservation history within the Gila National Forest, overlooking a complex terrain of deep canyons and seasonal drainages. This mid-century survey of the New Mexico high country captures the vital water infrastructure of the ranching era, characterized by numerous stock tanks such as Bills Hole Tank, Rattlesnake Tank, and Boundary Tank. These features were essential for supporting livestock across the arid expanses of Cactus Flat and the surrounding tablelands.

The map details the winding courses of Big Dry Creek and Little Dry Creek, which cut through the landscape between Black Mountain and Soldier Hill. Local ranching operations are anchored by the S I Ranch in the north and Moon Ranch in the south, the latter accompanied by a dedicated Landing Strip. The network of unimproved dirt roads and the alignment of U.S. Route 180 reveal the limited but critical transportation routes connecting these remote outposts during the 1960s.