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2013 Map of Saltpeter Mountain

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Saltpeter Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Saltpeter Mtn anchors this rugged section of Colfax County, where a complex network of canyons drains toward the plains. The landscape is defined by its deep drainages, including Ashenfelder Canyon, Waldron Canyon, and the extensive reaches of North Curtis Canyon. Water sources are sparse but notable, with Saltpeter Creek and Curtis Cr winding through the terrain, eventually meeting near the southern boundary where Twin Lakes are situated.

Evidence of human movement through this high country is marked by the presence of CO Road A-45 and Route 64, which cut across the otherwise untamed topography. The nomenclature of the area—including Prairie Crow Canyon and Beardon Canyon—reflects the local history of ranching and land use in this part of northern New Mexico, providing a clear view of the geographic barriers that shaped settlement patterns in the region.