Loading map...

1961 Map of Sandia Crest

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Sandia Crest
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The Sandia Mountains dominate this 1961 landscape, rising sharply from the western high desert floor into the high elevations of the Cibola National Forest. This era shows a transition toward recreation and winter sports, with the La Madera Ski Area and Tree Spring Winter Sports Area established alongside numerous mountain shelters such as Kiwani Cabin and Juan Tabo Cabin. The map details the complex land tenure of the region, including the Sandia Pueblo Grant and the Elena Gallegos lands, separated from the national forest by an approximate grant boundary.

Deep in the rugged eastern drainages like Cienega Canyon and Cañon Tejano, the map preserves records of local infrastructure including the Cañoncito Cemetery and the Jara Ranger Sta. Resource extraction and habitation are marked by the La Luz Mine and the Ellis Ranch, while the La Luz Trail and Crest Trail provide a clear view of the footpaths used by early hikers and foresters before the expansion of the modern Albuquerque suburbs.