2010 Map of Rail Canyon

About this map

Rail Canyon and a vast network of arroyos define this pocket of Catron County, New Mexico. The landscape is marked by a sophisticated water management system for ranching, centered around numerous named stock tanks and catchment points. Notable features include Indian House Tank and Thompson Tank, alongside significant drainage systems like Cottonwood Canyon and Fullerton Canyon. The topographic detail traces the elevation changes between the Upper Divide Tank and Lower Divide Tank, illustrating how the geography dictated the placement of water sources across the arid high-desert floor. Smaller basins like Batton Pond and family-named landmarks such as Hobarts Tank provide specific points of interest for local history researchers tracking land use and water rights in this specific region of the American Southwest during the early 21st century.