2020 Map of Pinon

About this map

Piñon serves as the central hub for this high-altitude landscape where the southern reaches of the Lincoln National Forest meet the Sacramento Mountains. The area is defined by a sophisticated network of water management features essential for ranching and settlement in this arid environment, including Richardson Lake, Shockley Lake, and numerous named catchments such as the Jim Godley Tank and Dean Tank. These features are connected by a system of roads like the Owen Prather Hwy and Stevens Draw Rd, which navigate a terrain carved by deep drainages such as Behringer Canyon, Gregg Canyon, and Chatfield Canyon. The map provides a detailed view of how human activity—from small settlements to named ranching tanks—adapts to the complex topography of Otero County's high desert and mountain transition zones.