Loading map...

2013 Map of Purgatory Canyon

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Purgatory Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Verde Oil Field occupies the southwestern portion of this high-desert landscape in San Juan County, illustrating the intersection of energy extraction and the arid natural environment. The terrain is defined by a complex network of canyons and drainage systems, including the namesake Purgatory Canyon and the prominent Barker Dome in the north. Water management and seasonal flow are central to the area's geography, marked by features such as Barker Arroyo, Jones Lake, and Blue Lake.

Transport through this rugged part of the New Mexico-Colorado borderlands relies on a series of specialized routes like Indian Service Route 214 and Indian Service Route 205. The map documents numerous named canyons, from Navajo Canyon to Coalbank Canyon, and expansive open areas like Foxtail Flats. These labels reflect both the geological diversity and the human history of land use in this specific corner of the American Southwest.