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1995 Map of The Wall

Name: 1995 Topographic Map of The Wall
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1997
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1997

About this map

The Beaubien and Miranda Grant (Maxwell) and the Sangre de Cristo Grant converge in this high-altitude corner of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where the Colorado and New Mexico border meets the intersection of Costilla, Colfax, and Taos counties. The landscape is defined by the massive geological formations known as The Wall and Little The Wall, which create a natural barrier running north to south. Human presence is sparse and focused on resource extraction and remote outposts, including the Van Diest Mine and several isolated dwellings such as the Bernal Cabin, Number One Camp, and Cressmer Lodge.

Water management is critical in this high-desert environment, evidenced by the Bernal Ditch and various named reservoirs like Bernal Lake and Adams Lake. The Vermejo River and Costilla Creek drain the steep canyons, while the Valle Vidal Unit marks the inclusion of former private land into the national forest system. This map captures the transition of vast land grants into managed wilderness, where 4WD trails provide the only access to landmarks like Vermejo Peak.