1995 Map of Taos SW

About this map

The Cañon del Rio Grande serves as the dominant western landmark of this high-altitude landscape, where the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River carves a deep path through the plateau. This mid-1990s revision reveals a terrain defined by ancient land boundaries, including the Antonio Martinez or Godot Grant Tract A and the Gijosa Grant, reflecting the complex history of Spanish and Mexican land tenure in northern New Mexico. Small settlements like Pueblo Lower and Rio Vista appear near the canyon rim, while the southern reaches rise into the Picuris Mountains within the Carson National Forest. The map documents numerous ephemeral watercourses and vital water sources such as Rio Grande Spring, Warm Springs, and Agua Caliente, which have long supported life in this arid environment. The intricate network of canyons, including Lumbre Canyon and Hondo Canyon, illustrates the erosive power of seasonal arroyos across the Cristoval de la Serna Grant.