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2023 Map of Rayo Hills

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

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

The Rayo Hills and the winding course of the Rancho Viejo Arroyo define this high-desert landscape along the boundary of Socorro and Torrance Counties. The terrain is marked by essential water sources for cattle and ranching, evidenced by scattered livestock reservoirs including Broome Tank, Bryan Tank, and Sais Tank. These features, along with the Red Tanks, suggest a long-standing reliance on seasonal water catchment in a region characterized by dramatic landforms like U-Butte and the Chupadera Gap.

Access to this remote territory is provided by a network of county roads and military routes, such as Co Rd 127 and WSMR S Route 3807. The presence of Bishop Ranch and Chupadera Spring highlights the few established nodes of activity in an area dominated by canyons and draws, including Montosa Canyon, Pelon Canyon, and Sand Draw. This survey provides a contemporary record of land use and topography in the transition between the central basins and the high hills of New Mexico.