1963 Map of Pine Canyon

About this map

Las Tuces Valley dominates this high-altitude landscape where the McKinley and Cibola county lines meet within the Cibola National Forest. The map documents a transition in land use, showing the spread of the Bluewater Lake shoreline alongside established cattle operations like Stallings Ranch and Pruitt Ranch. Water sources are vital markers in this arid environment, with the Flowing Well and Cottonwood Gulch Spring providing critical points for early ranchers. The expansion of Bluewater State Park is visible in the southeastern quadrant, reflecting the area's growth as a recreational destination. Traces of seasonal drainages, including Cottonwood Creek and Sawyer Creek, provide a glimpse into the natural water networks that shaped early settlement patterns and the placement of remote homesteads.