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1972 Map of Riley Canyon

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Riley Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

The Purgatoire River snakes through a complex network of canyons in this 1970s survey of the high plains along the border of Otero and Las Animas Counties. The landscape is defined by its deep drainage systems, including Riley Canyon, Gaussian Canyon, and Ninemile Canyon, where water sources like Good Pasture Spring and Rock Waterhole provided essential resources for ranching operations. Human presence is marked by isolated landmarks such as the Penitenta Ch and the Martinez Cem located near the river's edge.

Evidence of the area's agricultural and ranching history is scattered across the plateaus, from the Girard Windmill to the small settlement of Withers nestled in Withers Canyon. The map records a transition in the local economy and infrastructure, showing both traditional water features and more modern developments like pipelines and a Gaging Sta along the riverbanks. Several jeep trails and Rourke Road provide the primary access through this dissected terrain.