1972 Map of Painted Canyon

About this map

The Purgatoire River Canyon dominates this 1972 survey of the high plains in Las Animas County, carving a deep, winding path through the arid landscape. This specific reach of the Purgatoire River exhibits dramatic entrenched meanders, a characteristic topographical feature of the region's erosion history. The terrain is defined by a network of drainage systems that feed into the main canyon, including Van Bremer Arroyo, Luning Arroyo, and Hunt Canyon. To the northwest, the prominent ridge of The Hogback rises above the plains, while isolated water sources like Jack Canyon Spring provide critical landmarks in a region largely defined by dry washes. The presence of a Gaging Sta and scattered wells indicates the essential role of water management in this cattle-ranching territory, where landmarks such as Painted Canyon and Gutierrez Canyon navigate a landscape of high mesas and deep breaks.