2011 Map of Saliz Pass

About this map

Pueblo Creek and its many tributaries, including West Fork Pueblo Creek and Bear Canyon, dominate the high-elevation drainage of this section of Catron County. The landscape is defined by its working ranch history and high-country transit, centered on the crossing at Saliz Pass. Traces of ranching operations and seasonal camps are visible through features like Martinez Ranch, Serna Ranch, and the Kelly Camp. The naming conventions of the terrain, such as Gut Ache Mesa and Dangerous Park Canyon, suggest the difficult nature of the topography for early travelers and stockmen. Strategic water management is evident in the numerous namesake tanks scattered across the peaks and valleys, including Old Highway Tank and Little Joe Trick Tank, which supported livestock in the arid reaches between the major waterways of the creek and the San Francisco River.