1967 Map of Trinchera Creek

About this map

The Canadian River cuts through this high desert landscape of San Miguel County, creating distinctive landmarks like the Horseshoe Bend and the towering Carpenter Mesa to the west. This 1967 survey documents a cattle-ranching economy dependent on an extensive network of water infrastructure, including the Conchas Canal in the south and dozens of named landmarks such as the Artesian Windmill, Llano Pens, and Trinchera Well. Large land grants dominate the interior, including the Montoya No 2 Location Baca and the South Boundary Montoya Pablo Grant. Evidence of earlier transport persists through an Old Railroad Grade north of the river and a winding Jeep Trail, while local operations like the Chappell-Spade Ranch mark the few centers of human settlement in this arid terrain.