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1971 Map of Tule Mountain

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Tule Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1995
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1995

About this map

Big Bend National Park dominates this high-desert landscape, captured through aerial photography and field checks in the early 1970s. The terrain is defined by dramatic volcanic and erosional formations, most notably the massive Burro Mesa and the prominent peak of Tule Mountain. These highlands are dissected by an intricate drainage system including Alamo Creek, Cottonwood Creek, and Rough Run.

Access through this arid environment is limited to the Apache Canyon Trail, which skirts the southern edge of the mesa. Reliable water sources were clearly critical for mapping and navigation, as evidenced by the careful marking of Indian Head Spring, Bitter Spring, and several unnamed springs. Other significant landmarks include the named summits of Dogie Mountain and Slickrock Mountain, providing essential orientation points in the Chihuahuan Desert wilderness.