2022 Map of North Mountain

About this map

High mesas and intricate water management systems characterize this portion of the San Miguel and Dolores county line. Island Mesa and Hamilton Mesa dominate the northern terrain, while the southern reaches are marked by the prominent peak of North Mountain. The landscape reveals a history of ranching and water rights, evidenced by the Desert Claim Ditch and the Lilylands Canal winding through the draws. Local movement is dictated by the high-elevation topography, centered on landmarks like Sandys Fort Pass and the nearby Sandys Fort Spring. Deep drainages such as Knight Canyon and Willow Gulch cut through the plateaus, leading toward numerous small upland bodies of water including Galloway Lake, Spencer Lake, and Bull Lake. This terrain, while appearing desolate under names like Desert Claim, is clearly structured by the necessity of moving water across the arid basins and around the high points of The Butterfly and Lavender Point.