Urraca Mesa


Urraca Mesa is a large mesa located in Colfax County in northern New Mexico, U.S., on the property of Philmont Scout Ranch. It reaches an elevation of. The mesa has a long history of mythical and supernatural associations, dating to the local indigenous tribes.

Name

The name comes from the Spanish word for magpie from ancient Native American legends.

Flora and fauna

The mesa is covered in Ponderosa pine. Black bears, wild turkeys, deer and mountain lions are among its inhabitants.

Topography

Urraca Mesa is relatively flat with the exception of a protruding plateau, which contains a freshwater source. It is known for having the highest number of lightning strikes anywhere in New Mexico.