2012 Map of Sombrero Peak

About this map

Sombrero Peak towers over this arid expanse of Brewster County, where the desert landscape is punctuated by a network of critical water sources. The map reveals the importance of natural hydrology in this environment, with locations such as Indian Spring, Rock House Spring, and Onion Spring serving as focal points for both the ecology and the local ranching infrastructure. Human presence is largely defined by the Sombrero Peak Ranch and a series of primitive roads, including Terlingua Ranch Rd and Marathon Rd, which traverse the wide basins and flatlands. The drainage of Tornillo Cr carves through the terrain, leading toward features like Onion Flat and the rising elevations of the Paint Gap Hills. This 2012 survey illustrates the modern layout of these remote cattle ranching lands and their reliance on named springs for survival in the high desert.