2017 Map of Playas Lake South

About this map

Playas Lake dominates this arid Chihuahuan Desert landscape, appearing here as an ephemeral basin within the Playas Valley. The topography is defined by the stark transition from the low-lying lake bed to the steep elevations of the Little Hatchet Mountains in the east and the Animas Mountains to the southwest. This 2017 survey details a region shaped by both natural hydrology and industrial access, marked by the presence of Whitmore Spring and a network of desert routes including Smelter Rd and Gravel Pit Rd. The county line between Grant and Hidalgo counties bisects the northern reaches near Bull Canyon, illustrating the administrative divisions in this sparsely populated portion of New Mexico. The drainage of Rough Cr further highlights the complex water systems that intermittently feed the central valley floor.