2010 Map of Otero Store

About this map

Indian Service Road J18 provides the primary infrastructure through this portion of Rio Arriba County, connecting the high desert plateaus and deeply carved drainages typical of the region. The topography is defined by significant geographical markers such as Wild Horse Mesa in the northeast and the winding course of Cañada Largo which cuts across the central landscape. The network of valleys, including Lapis Valley and Navajo Valley, illustrates a complex natural drainage system into Cañon de los Ojitos and Burro Canyon. This 2010 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey details a landscape where traditional land access routes follow the natural contours of the mesas and canyons, reflecting the geographic constraints on transportation and settlement in this area of New Mexico.