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1967 Map of Swallow Nest Canyon

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Swallow Nest Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Sacra Ranch sits near the northwestern corner of this New Mexico landscape, which is defined by the complex drainage systems of Swallow Nest Canyon and Rattlesnake Canyon. This 1967 field-checked survey reveals an arid rangeland where life and labor are organized around scarce water sources. The distribution of isolated sites like the Cavel Sch and the School Section Well illustrates the sparse settlement patterns typical of the high plains near the De Baca and Chaves County line.

Water management is the primary human footprint on this terrain, visible through a network of named springs and improved wells. From the Blue Hole Spring and Headwater Spring in the north to Lower Horse Creek Spr along the banks of Horse Creek in the south, these features provide essential data for tracing the history of local ranching operations. Significant landforms like Wylie Draw and Huggins Draw serve as the primary topographic markers across this open country.