2023 Map of Tres Montosas

About this map

The high-desert terrain of Socorro County unfolds through complex drainages and volcanic rises within the Cibola National Forest. This modern survey by the U.S. Geological Survey details a landscape dominated by prominent peaks including Tres Montosas and Gray Hill, where the relief drops sharply into a network of seasonal watercourses. These natural corridors, such as Arroyo Montosa and Arroyo Landavaso, have historically dictated the movement across this arid environment. Transportation patterns are clearly etched into the topography, with contemporary forest roads intersecting former transit routes like Old State Hwy 52 and Old Hwy 60. The map illustrates the persistent intersection of modern accessibility and historical passage, tracing the same canyons and gulches like Milligan Gulch and Monica Canyon that have channeled travel through the region for generations.