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1961 Map of Sandia Crest

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Sandia Crest
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

The Sandia Mountains dominate this 1961 survey, revealing a landscape defined by the tension between early recreational development and ancient land grants. Within the Cibola National Forest, the map traces the rise of high-altitude leisure, from the Tree Spring Winter Sports Area and La Madera Ski Area to the remote Kiwani Cabin near the 10,678-foot peak. A quiet industrial history is marked by the La Luz Mine and the presence of numerous Radio Towers atop the crest.

The western slopes illustrate the complex property history of the region, specifically the Sandia Pueblo Grant and the Elena Gallegos Grant. While the high country was being organized into picnic areas like Balsam Glade and Doc Long, the lower elevations remained largely undeveloped, characterized by deep canyons such as Bear Canyon and Juan Tabo Canyon. This record captures the area just as it became the primary recreational focus for the nearby growing population.