1997 Map of Skeleton Canyon

About this map

Coronado National Forest dominates this high-desert landscape along the Arizona-New Mexico border, where deep drainage systems like Skeleton Canyon and Starvation Canyon carve through the Peloncillo Mountains. The late 20th-century topography reveals a critical network of water management features essential for ranching and wildlife in this arid environment, including Geronimo Tank, Rickys Tank, and Lower Skeleton Tank. These man-made catchments, often named for local figures or events, sit alongside natural water sources like Woodchoppers Spring and Hog Canyon Spring. The map documents a sparsely populated but historically named geography, from the dramatic rock formations at Devils Kitchen to the broad drainage of Clanton Draw. The intricate system of canyons, including Pony Canyon and Whitmire Canyon, illustrates the complex erosion patterns that define this borderland region.