2011 Map of Penasco

About this map

Picuris Pueblo and the surrounding villages of the High Road to Taos region are documented in this 2011 survey, showing a landscape defined by traditional water management. The intricate network of irrigation ditches, such as the Acequia Madre de Santa Barbara and Acequia Madre de Llano San Juan, illustrates the centuries-old agricultural systems still vital to communities like Peñasco and Rodarte. These acequias follow the contours of the Rio Pueblo and Rio Santa Barbara valleys, sustaining small settlements below the northern Picuris Mountains. For those researching family history, the map identifies numerous small burial grounds including the Rio Lucio Cemetery, Ramon Sanchez Cemetery, and Morada Cemetery. This study also captures modern infrastructure along State Road 73 and various Indian Service Routes, while preserving the location of local landmarks like the Vadito Post Office and the Camino Real District Ranger Office.