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2020 Map of San Patricio

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of San Patricio
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

Rio Bonito and the Rio Ruidoso converge in the southeastern corner of this landscape to form the Rio Hondo, creating a vital riparian corridor through the high-desert terrain of Lincoln County. The settlement of San Patricio sits along the northern bank of the Ruidoso, near the base of Cerro San Patricio. This area's ranching and irrigation history is evidenced by numerous water features such as Peter Hurd Spring, Emil Fritz Spring, and Colonel Fritz Spring.

Elevations rise sharply into the Sacramento Mountains and the Lincoln National Forest, where rugged canyons like Dow Canyon and Pierce Canyon dominate the northern half of the survey. Significant peaks including El Sentinel Peak and La Tetita Peak overlook the valley, while the Fritz Cem serves as a small but poignant genealogical marker of the early families who established themselves in the Hondo Valley.