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2023 Map of Purgatory Canyon

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Purgatory Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Barker Dome and the namesake Purgatory Canyon define this section of San Juan County, where the high desert terrain is carved by an intricate network of arroyos and washes. The landscape is characterized by its drainage patterns, notably Barker Arroyo and its tributaries, which flow southward toward Foxtail Flats. Scattered water features such as Jones Lake and Blue Lake provide rare points of surface water amidst the canyons and ridges.

Transport through this arid region relies on a series of specialized routes, including Indian Svc Rte 205 and Indian Svc Rte 211, which navigate the complex topography. From the deep incisions of Navajo Canyon to the eastern reaches of Coalbank Canyon, the map illustrates a remote territory where traditional land use and environmental constraints shape the modern infrastructure. Other prominent landforms include Ute Canyon and Straight Canyon, each contributing to the rugged character of the Colorado-New Mexico borderlands.