2022 Map of Riley Canyon

About this map

The Comanche National Grassland dominates this landscape along the border of Otero and Las Animas counties, where the high plains break into a complex network of canyons. The Purgatoire River carves through the terrain, flanked by significant geographic features like Riley Canyon and Purgatoire Canyon. Evidence of early regional transit is preserved in the Barlow-Sanderson Wagon Road Trl, a historic route that once connected southeastern Colorado. Local genealogy and settlement history are anchored by the Martinez Cem and San Jose Cem near the Ninemile Canal. The southern portion of the map includes part of the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, highlighting the area's modern military utility. Water sources like Good Pasture Spring and Rock Waterhole provide critical points of interest in this arid environment.