1983 Map of Penasco Amarillo

About this map

Tierra Amarilla Grant Bdy defines much of this Northern New Mexico high-country landscape, established as a provisional study in the early 1980s. The terrain is dominated by the dramatic Brazos Cliffs and the course of the Rio Brazos, where water management for early ranching or agriculture is evidenced by the Park Ditch and View Ditch. This area, centered on the Peñasco Amarillo landmark, shows a landscape transition where numerous mountain drainages like Encinado Creek and the Rito de Tierra Amarilla converge. A single Prospect noted near the peaks suggests the era's limited mineral exploration, while a solitary Jeep Trail provides the only significant vehicular access into these elevations. The map serves as a detailed record of the hydrography and land grant boundaries that have long shaped land use in Rio Arriba County.