1995 Map of Penasco

About this map

The high mountain valley of the Picuris Mountains is defined by ancient land grants and a sophisticated network of traditional irrigation canals known as acequias. These gravity-fed channels, including the Acequia Madre de Santa Barbara and Acequia del Llano, wind through the landscape to support the historic communities of Peñasco, Rodarte, and Llano. The map clearly delineates the complex boundaries between the Carson National Forest and several Spanish and Pueblo land grants, such as the Picuris Pueblo Grant and the Llano Santa Barbara Grant. Cultural heritage is central to this area, where Picuris Pueblo sits near the confluence of Rio Pueblo and Embudo Creek. Transportation and communication markers like the Camino Real and a Telephone Trail cut through the high-altitude terrain, connecting remote settlements with the larger region.