Loading map...

1953 Map of Vallecitos

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Vallecitos
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The Town of Abiquiu Grant and Juan Jose Lobato Grant overlap in this northern New Mexico landscape, creating a complex history of land tenure and grazing. The settlement of Vallecitos sits near the confluence of La Joya Tio Gregorio Creek and several mountain drainages, serving as a focal point for the surrounding ranches and small communities like Los Cerritos. The terrain is defined by massive landforms such as Mesa Lobato and Mesa Gallina, which rise sharply above the Rio Oso and Gallina Creek watersheds.

Institutional presence in the mid-20th century is marked by the Rio del Oso Ranger Station and the Santa Clara Ranger Station, managing the interface between the Santa Fe National Forest and the Santa Clara Indian Reservation. Early transportation routes, including the Short Cut and various jeep trails, connect isolated sites such as Peñasco Blanco and San Lorenzo, providing a detailed look at the rural infrastructure of Rio Arriba County before modern development.