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2013 Map of Wade Canyon

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Wade Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

The Canadian River meanders through a deeply dissected plateau in this portion of San Miguel County, creating a complex system of drainage and relief. The topography is defined by significant breaks like Wade Canyon and Costilla Canyon, which channel seasonal runoff toward the primary river corridor. This arid landscape relies on scattered water improvements to support ranching and land use, evidenced by the presence of family-named or descriptive water points such as Whiskey Windmill, Screw Windmill, and Elise Tank.

Smaller tributaries including Arroyo del Mesteño and Arroyo Alamocito carve additional pathways through the terrain, while landmarks like Picket Pens Tank and White Tank serve as vital infrastructure markers across the township and range grid. The lack of concentrated settlements highlights the area's character as an open rangeland dominated by natural landforms and isolated livestock watering stations.