1963 Map of Vigas Canyon

About this map

The Carson National Forest landscape in Rio Arriba County is defined by a high-desert topography of mesas and deep drainage systems. This 1963 survey shows an area dominated by energy extraction and historical sites, centered on the Gas Field that spans much of the central canyon floor. The map records several Gas Wells and an Oil Well nestled among the winding walls of Cereza Canyon and Muñoz Canyon. Local water sources are vital markers in this arid environment, with Jaramillo Spring, Tecolote Spring, and the Candelaria Waterhole providing essential points of interest for historical study. The southern portion of the sheet is marked by the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation Boundary, while archaeological evidence of earlier inhabitants is noted at the Indian Ruins found near the Arroyo Compañero.