1964 Map of Third Canyon

About this map

McPhaul Ranch sits at the heart of this high-altitude cattle and ranching country within the Cibola National Forest. The landscape is defined by the erosion of the Third Canyon Mesa, where deep drainage systems like Goat Canyon, Harrington Canyon, and Cibola Canyon carve through the terrain toward Alamocita Creek. The infrastructure of the mid-1960s reveals the vital importance of water management in this arid environment, marked by numerous man-made and natural water sources such as Trinchera Lake, Sunflower Lake, and specialized points like Bobcat Well and Freeland Arroyo Tank. A remote Landing Strip near the ranch indicates the necessity of aerial access for these isolated settlements. Geologists and local historians can also identify several Prospect sites, suggesting the mineral exploration that often accompanied ranching in Catron County.