1999 Map of North Star Mesa

About this map

Loco Mountain and Middle Mountain dominate this high-desert territory within the Gila National Forest, a landscape defined by its network of water management features and steep canyon systems. The transition from the high peaks of the Gila Wilderness and Aldo Leopold Wilderness down toward Sapillo Creek reveals a remote cattle-ranching and resource-management economy. Numerous tanks and wells, such as Terry Well, Red Sap Well, and Turkey Cienega Tank, illustrate the critical importance of water distribution across this high terrain. The southern portion of the sheet shows the transition from the wilderness toward the small settlement at V-Cross Ranch and the open space of Gattons Park. The Continental Divide winds through the eastern side of the quadrangle, crossing Star Mesa and overlooking Terry Canyon, providing a detailed look at the hydrology of the American Southwest at the turn of the millennium.