2020 Map of Shady Brook

About this map

Valle Escondido and the small settlement of Shady Brook are the primary residential anchors in this mountainous reach of the Carson National Forest. The landscape is defined by the high ridges of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Fernando Mountains, where a complex network of canyons like Shady Brook Canyon and Mondragon Canyon drain toward the Rio Fernando de Taos. Historically, this area has been shaped by its difficult terrain and the critical water sources that sustain the high mountain meadows, including Bernardin Lake and Porky Spring. Numerous named trails such as Buena Suerte, Paradise, and Mondragon traverse the Santa Fe Mountains, illustrating the long-standing importance of backcountry access for forest management and high-altitude recreation in Taos County.