2016 Map of South Rector Canyon

About this map

South Rector Canyon and its complex network of seasonal drainage channels define this arid landscape in Culberson County near the New Mexico border. The terrain is characterized by dramatic topographic shifts, where the high country drops toward the Yeso Hills in the northeast. Water management in this high-desert environment is evidenced by features such as Cave Tank and Well Drill Tank, indicating the necessary infrastructure for ranching or land management in a region where permanent surface water is scarce. Large drainage systems like McKittrick Canyon Draw and Big Canyon cut through the western portion of the map, illustrating how flash flooding has shaped the local geology. Transportation across this expanse is limited to a few primary corridors, including FM 652 and the highway designated 62 180, which provide the only significant access through these remote canyons.