Tusas Mountains

The eastern part of the range is primarily located in the Carson National Forest, bordered by the Taos Plateau volcanic field and Rio Grande del Norte National Monument to the east. It provides the headwaters for the Rio San Antonio, a tributary of the Conejos River (which flows into the Rio Grande in Colorado), and further south the Rio Tusas and Rio Vallecito, which form the Rio Ojo Caliente, a tributary of the Rio Chama (also a Rio Grande tributary). Numerous volcanic features are located along the eastern edge of the range bordering the Taos plateau{{sfn|Julyan|2006|p=70}} including nearby San Antonio Mountain.

Much of the western part of the range, also known as the Brazos Mountains, is in the privately owned Tierra Amarilla Land Grant. The terrain consists of harder granite and metamorphic rock, and is more rugged than the eastern side.{{sfn|Julyan|2006|p=70}} It includes features such as the Brazos Cliffs and several small mountain lakes including Hidden Lake and Sugar Loaf Lake. It is drained primarily by the Rio Chama and its tributary the Rio Brazos.

Grouse Mesa, the highest peak in the Tusas Mountains, has a subalpine climate (Köppen Dfc).

{{Weather box

|location = Grouse Mesa 36.8343 N, 106.3989 W, Elevation: {{cvt|11198|ft}} (1991–2020 normals)

|single line = y

|Jan high F = 29.3

|Feb high F = 30.4

|Mar high F = 37.0

|Apr high F = 43.1

|May high F = 51.9

|Jun high F = 63.4

|Jul high F = 67.4

|Aug high F = 65.1

|Sep high F = 59.1

|Oct high F = 49.0

|Nov high F = 36.5

|Dec high F = 29.2

|Jan mean F = 18.6

|Feb mean F = 19.4

|Mar mean F = 25.1

|Apr mean F = 30.8

|May mean F = 39.6

|Jun mean F = 50.0

|Jul mean F = 54.5

|Aug mean F = 52.8

|Sep mean F = 47.0

|Oct mean F = 37.3

|Nov mean F = 26.0

|Dec mean F = 18.8

|Jan low F = 7.8

|Feb low F = 8.4

|Mar low F = 13.2

|Apr low F = 18.4

|May low F = 27.3

|Jun low F = 36.5

|Jul low F = 41.5

|Aug low F = 40.4

|Sep low F = 34.9

|Oct low F = 25.7

|Nov low F = 15.4

|Dec low F = 8.5

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 4.61

|Feb precipitation inch = 4.75

|Mar precipitation inch = 4.53

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.20

|May precipitation inch = 2.41

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.86

|Jul precipitation inch = 2.41

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.35

|Sep precipitation inch = 2.84

|Oct precipitation inch = 3.03

|Nov precipitation inch = 3.51

|Dec precipitation inch = 4.53

|source=PRISM Climate Group{{cite web

|url= http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/

|title= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University

|publisher= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University

|access-date= October 2, 2023

|quote= To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.}}

}}

Gold and silver were discovered in the Tusas in 1881, but the deposits were of low quality and the area never saw significant mining activity.{{sfn|Julyan|2006|p=73}}

In 1986 the United States Board on Geographic Names redefined the Brazos Mountains, originally considered a separate mountain range, as part of the Tusas Mountains, although the old name is still locally used.{{sfn|Julyan|2006|p=73}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|title=The Mountains of New Mexico|last=Julyan|first=Robert|publisher=UNM Press|year=2006|isbn=0-82633-516-0}}

Category:Mountain ranges of New Mexico

Category:Mountain ranges of Colorado

Category:San Juan Mountains (Colorado)