2013 Map of Sand Canyon

About this map

El Malpais National Monument dominates the western edge of this Cibola County landscape, where the ancient volcanic flows of The Malpais meet the sharp rise of Cebollita Mesa. The area is characterized by a network of deep drainages and canyons, including Cebolla Canyon and Armijo Canyon, which have historically provided essential water sources in this arid environment. The map reveals a legacy of ranching and land management through a series of named water features and landmarks such as Armijo Spring and several numbered wells, including the Henson Number 1 Windmill and Woods Number 1 Windmill. These isolated improvements, often located at the intersection of rugged tracks like Lava Falls Rd and Homestead Canyon Rd, trace the efforts of early 21st-century inhabitants to utilize this high-desert terrain for livestock and transit.