1987 Map of Skeleton Canyon

About this map

Peloncillo Mountains dominate this 1987 survey of the borderlands where Hidalgo County, New Mexico, meets Cochise County, Arizona. Much of the eastern portion of the map is encompassed by the Coronado National Forest, a terrain of high ridges and deep drainages including Whitmire Canyon and Salt Canyon. The map details an arid landscape where water management was critical for ranching and survival, as evidenced by a sophisticated network of tanks and springs. From Geronimo Tank in the south to Lower Skeleton Tank and Woodchoppers Spring in the north, these named water sources illustrate the infrastructure of the high desert. The famous Skeleton Canyon winds through the center of the sheet, while family-named features like Rickys Tank and Smith Tank provide valuable clues for local historians and genealogists studying the land use patterns of the late 20th century.