1971 Map of Trinchera Pass

About this map

The high mesa country of the Colorado-New Mexico border stands at the center of this 1971 field-checked survey. Stretching across the county lines of Las Animas and Colfax counties, the landscape is defined by the massive Kelleher Mesa and Chavez Mesa, separated by the strategic crossing at Trinchera Pass. Historical footprints are preserved in the form of the Pacheco Cem and another smaller Cem near the center of the sheet, likely representing early settlement efforts in this arid territory. The drainage system of Trinchera Creek and Arroyo Salazar feeds toward the southern boundary, where the Dry Cimarron River passes near the Folsom State Monument. Numerous cattle-related features like the Border Ditch and various unnamed Jeep Trails suggest a mid-century economy built on ranching and livestock management across this remote interstate borderland.