1961 Map of Sandia Crest

About this map

Sandia Mountains dominate this landscape, rising sharply through the Cibola National Forest to the high points of Sandia Crest and Sandia Peak. This map records the mid-century infrastructure of the range, from the Radio Towers and Ski Tow near the summits to the primitive Crest Trail and numerous named canyons such as Cañon de la Cueva and Tejano Canyon. Historically significant land divisions like the Elena Gallegos Grant and Sandia Pueblo Grant reveal the complex legacy of regional land tenure. Pockets of human habitation and recreation are documented at Ellis Ranch, the Juan Tabo Cabin, and the La Madera Ski Area. On the lower eastern slopes, the small settlement at Cañoncito and the Cañoncito Cemetery provide touchstones for local genealogical research, while the La Luz Mine points to the area's mineral prospects.