2020 Map of Penasco

About this map

Picuris Pueblo and the surrounding high-altitude villages of Taos County anchor this landscape, where traditional water management remains central to the community. The complex network of irrigation ditches, including the Acequia Madre and Chamisal Ditch, illustrates a long-standing agricultural heritage that follows the courses of Rio Pueblo and Rio Santa Barbara. These waterways descend from the Picuris Mountains and Sangre de Cristo Mountains, sustaining settlements like Peñasco and Rodarte along the valley floor. Genealogy researchers will find significant detail in the numerous community burial grounds, such as the San Pedro Cem and Ramon Sanchez Cem. The presence of the Carson National Forest and historic routes like the Camino Real reflect the area's transition from an ancient crossroads to a contemporary rural center.