1963 Map of Vigas Canyon

About this map

Carson National Forest dominates this landscape in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, where deep canyons and high mesas define a complex terrain of industrial and indigenous history. The southern portion of the map is marked by the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation Boundary, while the center is occupied by an extensive Gas Field. This 1960s survey illustrates a transitional era where resource extraction, indicated by several Gas Wells and an Oil Well, coexists with ancient archaeological sites such as the Indian Ruins near the Vigas Canyon drainage. Water sources are critical landmarks in this arid environment, evidenced by named features like Candelaria Waterhole, Tecolote Spring, and Jaramillo Spring. The topography transitions from the high elevations of Vigas Mesa and Cereza Mesa into the deep incisions of Cereza Canyon and Muñoz Canyon.