1999 Map of Pitchfork Canyon

About this map

Gila National Forest encompasses this high-altitude landscape in Catron County, where the Continental Divide winds across the ridgelines. The topography is defined by a series of deep drainages, including Pitchfork Canyon and La Jolla Canyon, which fall away from the central mass of Elk Mountain. Human impact in this late-twentieth-century landscape is marked primarily by ranching and forest management infrastructure. A network of water sources, such as Double Barrel Spring and Shantie Spring, alongside numerous stock tanks like Seven HL Tank and West Elk Tank, indicate the ongoing utility of this land for livestock. Transportation is limited to rugged tracks such as the Seven HL Road and the Continental Divide Scenic Trail, which provides a corridor for long-distance travel through the forest.