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1972 Map of Painted Canyon

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Painted Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Purgatoire River carves a deep, winding path through this corner of Las Animas County, shaping a landscape of steep-walled canyons and ephemeral drainages. In the center of the map, Painted Canyon and its associated side-draws like Hunt Canyon and Kiowa Canyon demonstrate the intense erosional patterns typical of the Colorado high plains. The terrain is further defined by prominent landmarks such as The Hogback in the northwest, which rises above the expansive drainage basin of the Van Bremer Arroyo.

While largely devoid of permanent settlements, the map documents the essential water sources and infrastructure required for ranching in this arid environment. Named springs and wells, including Jack Canyon Spring and a Gaging Sta on the Purgatoire, point to the vital importance of water management. A significant Pipeline corridor and several unimproved roads suggest the modern industrial and agricultural uses of these remote rangelands during the late twentieth century.