2013 Map of Potrillo Peak

About this map

Potrillo Peak dominates the southern landscape of this arid volcanic field in Doña Ana County, marking a high point in the distinctive West Potrillo Mountains. The terrain is characterized by cinder cones and basalt flows, where early 21st-century ranchers and land managers relied on a scattered network of water catchment points. These include named basins such as Jays Tank, Hagens Tank, Bills Tank, and Barbaras Tank. Human activity is primarily traced through a sparse grid of 4WD tracks and primitive routes like Trail Rd, which navigate the township and range lines across several sections of public land. This 2013 survey illustrates the rugged isolation of the Chihuahuan Desert, where topographic relief is defined more by volcanic features than by permanent settlements.