2020 Map of Swallow Nest Canyon

About this map

Swallow Nest Canyon defines the upper reaches of this New Mexico landscape, where the boundary between Chaves and De Baca counties crosses a network of drainages and seasonal water sources. The map documents a sparsely populated ranching environment where life revolves around reliable water, indicated by named features like Blue Hole Spring, Coyote Spring, and Rattlesnake Spring. Infrastructure is limited to a few arterial dirt routes such as Colfax Rd and Spike Box Rd, which navigate the elevation changes around Rattlesnake Canyon and Coyote Canyon. Evidence of land management and livestock operations appears in the presence of Drake Tank, Redman Tank, and North Tank, which serve as vital collection points in an area otherwise dominated by the intermittent flows of Horse Cr and Wylie Draw.