1938 Map of Santiago Peak

About this map

Santiago Peak anchors this corner of the Big Bend region, rising as a prominent landmark within the Santiago Mountains. This 1917 survey, later published in 1938, captures a landscape defined by the cattle industry and trans-Pecos travel routes. The map documents several significant family-run operations, including Buttrill Ranch in the north and the Combs Cattle Co Ranch situated centrally. These remote outposts relied on intermittent water sources like Maravillas Creek and the drainage at Chalk Draw. The presence of roads leading To Marathon and To Sterlingua (Terlingua) highlights the area's role as a transit corridor through the Cochran Mountains. Natural gateways such as Paso del Norte and Maravillas Gap provided the only practical passage through the steep terrain, serving as vital waypoints for ranchers and travelers in Brewster County.