2020 Map of Ponderosa

About this map

Jemez Springs and the village of Ponderosa anchor this high-altitude landscape within the Santa Fe National Forest. The geography is defined by a series of dramatic mesas and canyons, where the Jemez River and Rio Guadalupe have carved deep paths through the Jemez Mountains. Historical water management is evident in the Cañones Communities Ditch, a feature reflecting the area's long-standing reliance on communal irrigation systems. Significant landforms like Virgin Mesa, San Juan Mesa, and Guadalupita Mesa dominate the terrain, separated by steep drainages such as Virgin Canyon and Paliza Canyon. Along the southern reaches, the map tracks Vallecito Cr and secondary routes like Indian Svc Rte 821, highlighting the area's transition between forest land and tribal service territories.