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1965 Map of Zapata Ranch

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Zapata Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The dramatic meeting of the Great Sand Dunes National Monument and the Rio Grande National Forest defines this mid-1960s survey of Alamosa County. The landscape transitions sharply from the massive sand dunes in the northwest to the high ridges and canyons of the Sangre de Cristo foothills in the east. Along this geological boundary, the Zapata Ranch and the small settlement of Zapata serve as historical anchors near the base of the mountains.

Water management is vital in this arid environment, evidenced by several flowing wells scattered across the flats and numerous drainages like North Zapata Creek and Medano Creek descending from the heights. High-altitude features such as Middle Zapata Creek Lake and North Zapata Ridge overlook the valley. Public use of the monument is established through the Pinyon Flats Campground, Amphitheater, and a Visitor Center, while a small Cem remains a quiet marker of the area's early residents.