Maps
Property search via Costilla County's website
Parcels within the Ranches subdivision do not have street addresses like a property "in town" would have. Lots are generally not marked with traditional signage. We all have had to figure out where our properties are located through some basic research.
​ On their website, Costilla County provides a property search map. You can search by parcel number, tax account number, owner name, etc. Each parcel in the subdivision should have a unique 8-digit parcel number; that is what the lot is most commonly known by. Once you identify the location of a lot in the county's property search map, you will be able to determine on which road the lot is located, as well as its crossroads. (There are 445 miles of roads in the subdivision so you will definitely need to identify both the road and the crossroads to find a specific lot.) Then, you can use the kmz files (further down on this page) to find those roads and crossroads. Sometimes, Google Maps can provide driving directions to a specific road or intersection. Please note that most intersections are marked, but not all.
The county's property search website is known to contain a significant number of errors as it is managed by a third party. If a search by parcel number results in a list with multiple lots, make sure you know which lot is the correct one. The lots are numbered sequentially, so you might be able to figure out a lot's correct parcel number based on the numbers assigned to adjacent lots. Below is a sample of how the county's property search map appears once you zoom in to the parcel level.
You can determine the approximate GPS coordinates of the corners of your property by right-clicking on each corner from within the county's property search map and noting the coordinates provided. Alternatively, you can view property boundaries in various GPS apps (e.g., OnX hunting app) by searching by parcel number. If you want a more precise determination of a lot's boundaries, you will need to hire a professional surveyor.
Subdivision roads by altitude
​ This map shows the subdivision's roads color-coded based on altitude. The blue line shows the subdivision boundary. Dark green is anything less than 8500 feet. Light green = 8500-8750 feet. Yellow = 8750-9000 feet. Light orange = 9000-9250 feet. Dark orange = 9250-9500 feet. Finally, red shows anything more than 9500 feet. Anything above about 9500 feet will not have year-round access (no guarantees at the lower altitudes, either). Some of the highest properties are at more than 11500 feet altitude.
You are welcome to download the kmz file from which this map was generated. You can view the kmz file using most GSP mapping software apps. You can also view the kmz file in Google Earth (free download). Many of the apps, including Google Earth, will provide an altitude profile of the road. Similarly, if you lay a series of "paths" or "routes" across a specific lot in a crisscross pattern, you will be able to get an idea of the altitude profile of the lot, as well.
Subdivision roads by usage
​ The map below shows the subdivision's roads color-coded based on usage. The blue line shows the subdivision boundary. Green indicates roads that are main thoroughfares. Yellow shows roads that are collectors. Red shows roads that are low-usage, dead-end roads.
You are welcome to download the kmz file from which this map was generated. You can view the kmz file using most GPS mapping software apps. You can also view the kmz file in Google Earth (free download).
