2023 Map of Oscura

About this map

White Sands Missile Range dominates the western portion of this High Desert landscape, where the modern military footprint meets the remnants of older ranching and transportation networks. The settlement of Oscura and nearby Cora sit along the north-south transit corridor, while the higher elevations of Bull Gap Ridge and Milagro Hill break the basin floor. Water sources are critical in this arid environment, evidenced by scattered points like Milagro Springs, Keen Spring, and Phillips Springs. The topography transitions from the flat plains in the west to the more complex relief of the Godfrey Hills and Jackass Mountain in the southeast, where Lopez Canyon carves through the terrain. County boundaries divide the southern reach, separating Lincoln and Otero counties near New Well Draw.