Monticello Canyon facts for kids
Monticello Canyon is a beautiful valley in New Mexico. It was originally known by its Spanish name, Cañada Alamosa, which means "Glen of the Cottonwoods." This long valley is carved out by Alamosa Creek. It stretches across parts of Sierra County and Socorro County.
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Where is Monticello Canyon?
The lowest part of Monticello Canyon, called its "mouth," is in Sierra County. It sits at an elevation of about 4,419 feet (1,347 meters). The highest part, or "head," is much higher. It's located at 33°34′10″N 107°35′36″W / 33.56944°N 107.59333°W in the San Mateo Mountains. This area is part of the Cibola National Forest in Socorro County, reaching an elevation of 7,540 feet (2,298 meters).
Parts of the Canyon
Monticello Canyon is like a puzzle made of three main sections. Each part has its own unique features.
The Upper Valley
The first part is the upper valley, or "cañada." This section is nestled between mountains. To the north and east are the San Mateo Mountains, where the canyon begins. To the west is the Black Range, and to the southwest is the Sierra Cuchillo. This upper area is a wide, open valley.
The Lower Valley
The second part is the lower valley. This is the section that the early Spanish settlers named Cañada Alamosa. It starts from the wider opening of the canyon. From there, it stretches southeast all the way to the Rio Grande, a major river in New Mexico.
The Monticello Box
The upper and lower valleys are connected by a narrower, more dramatic section. This part is a tight canyon with a special area called the Monticello Box. The Monticello Box is a very narrow, deep part of the canyon. It's located at the head of this middle section, at 33°34′10″N 107°35′36″W / 33.56944°N 107.59333°W.
This narrow canyon cuts through the mountains. It separates the San Mateo Mountains to the northeast from the Sierra Cuchillo to the southwest. As you travel down this canyon, it eventually opens up. You start to see fields appear just below where a smaller stream, the Cañada Viviancito, joins Alamosa Creek. The local community of Monticello gets its water from a ditch that starts just above this point. This ditch then flows down through the town.
