2013 Map of Paxton Springs

About this map

Oso Ridge Lookout Tower Beacon stands as a sentinel over this section of the Zuni Mountains, where the high desert meets the volcanic legacies of the Zuni-Bandera volcanic field. The terrain is defined by dramatic elevation shifts, ranging from the deep cuts of La Jara Canyon and Trail Canyon in the north to the distinctive Bandera Crater near the southern boundary. This area serves as a critical hydrological and topographical juncture, featuring the Continental Divide winding through the western portion of the map. Water sources such as Paxton Spring, Aqua Fria Spring, and Malpais Spring provide rare riparian points within the protected lands of the Cibola National Forest and El Malpais National Monument, illustrating the complex management of this southwestern landscape.