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1965 Map of Puertecito Gap

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Puertecito Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

The Magdalena Mountains dominate this landscape, defined by the prominent ridge of the Devils Backbone and heights like Bern Peak and Horse Mountain. At the time of this mid-1960s fieldwork, the area served primarily as ranching and mining land, evidenced by scattered prospects and a Mine near Puertecito Gap. Water management is the primary sign of human activity in this arid terrain, with a network of wells and tanks such as Copper Canyon Well, Blue Well, and Poniente Tank supporting livestock and isolated outposts like V L Ranch and Rienhardt Ranch.

Transportation is limited to primitive routes including a Trail and Jeep Trail network, though a Landing Strip near the northern boundary suggests the necessity of aerial access for these remote properties. The drainage patterns of Milligan Gulch and Arroyo Puertecito illustrate how seasonal runoff has carved the canyons of the Indian Hills, creating the distinct geographic break known as the Puertecito settlement area.