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1963 Map of O Block Canyon

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of O Block Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The San Francisco River cuts a winding path through this portion of the Gila National Forest, defining a landscape of deep canyons and prominent ridges. Based on 1958 aerial photography and 1963 fieldwork, the survey illustrates a remote ranching and forest environment where water management is critical to land use. Numerous upland water sources are documented, including Frisco Plaza Tank No 2, Apache Peak Tank, and the Frying Pan Well.

Human presence is concentrated at the K Kelly Ranch, situated near the confluence of several mountain systems. The terrain transitions from the Saliz Mountains in the northwest to the Kelly Mountains in the south, separated by rugged drainages such as O Block Canyon and Gatlin Canyon. Access is limited to a network of unimproved routes, including the Reserve Beaverhead Road and several Jeep Trails, which served the forestry and grazing operations of Catron County in the early 1960s.