1993 Map of Sheep Canyon

About this map

The Santa Fe National Historic Trail cuts across the northwest corner of this high plains landscape, following the path of the historic mountain route. This semi-arid region is defined by its transition from the managed grazing lands of the Comanche National Grassland to the expansive Fort Carson Military Reservation, which includes the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site. The drainage system is dominated by the Hoe Ranch Arroyo and Sheep Canyon, where the scarcity of water is evidenced by the wide distribution of man-made infrastructure. Numerous named windmills and wells, such as the Bull Pasture Windmill, Hoffman Windmill, and Mills Well, reveal the 20th-century ranching heritage that persisted even as much of the land transitioned to federal and military control. Small water features like Kennedy Ponds and Smith Pond remain critical landmarks in this open terrain.