1963 Map of Pine Canyon

About this map

Bluewater Lake and the southeastern reaches of the Cibola National Forest anchor this mid-century New Mexico landscape. The terrain transitions from the high, wooded ridges of the forest down into the broad Las Tuces Valley, where drainage systems like Cottonwood Creek and Sawyer Creek converge. The human presence is defined by established family holdings and ranching infrastructure, such as the Stallings Ranch and Ford Ranch, which are positioned near essential water sources like Flowing Well and Cottonwood Gulch Spring. The survey also marks the administrative boundary between McKinley and Valencia Counties, cutting through the canyon country north of Pine Canyon. This 1963 field check provides a record of the early recreation area around Bluewater State Park before the expansion of local road networks.