2013 Map of Patterson Crossing

About this map

Patterson Crossing serves as the namesake landmark for this stretch of Las Animas County, where human infrastructure meets the complex hydrology of the high plains. The drainage systems of San Francisco Cr and San Isidro Cr dominate the southern half of the landscape, while the northern portion is defined by the winding Purgatoire River as it enters the dramatic Purgatoire Canyon. The reliance on water management in this arid region is clearly visible through the presence of the Lewelling McCormick Ditch and the Patterson Ditch, both essential for land use in this part of Colorado. Running east-to-west, Us-160 provides the primary transit artery, bisecting a terrain characterized by deep arroyos and seasonal creeks like Frijole Cr and Sauce Arroyo.