Loading map...

2013 Map of Pikes Stockade

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Pikes Stockade
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Pikes Stockade sits at the heart of this high-desert landscape, marking the historic site where the Conejos River meets the valley floor. The terrain is defined by the sharp elevations of the San Luis Hills, including prominent peaks like Saddleback Mountain and Sierro del Ojito. These volcanic formations rise abruptly from the surrounding flats, creating a stark contrast with the riparian corridors of the Rio Grande and the Conejos River.

The complex water management system of the San Luis Valley is visible through a network of irrigation works, such as the Tenfoot Lateral, Twentyfoot Lateral, and Lasauses Lateral. These man-made channels, along with the Sanford Ditch and Ephriam Ditch, underscore the agricultural necessity of moving water from the river systems to the arid plains. Natural water sources like Dexter Springs and McIntyre Spring provide essential moisture in this arid region, where county boundaries for Alamosa, Conejos, and Costilla meet.