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1954 Map of Bears Ears

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Bears Ears
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The twin sandstone buttes of Bears Ears dominate this mid-century survey of the high desert plateau in San Juan County. This area within the Manti-La Sal National Forest is defined by deeply incised drainages like Woodenshoe Canyon and Burch Canyon, where vertical relief separates vast mesas such as Dry Mesa and South Long Point. Human activity is sparse and centered on forest management and remote navigation, evidenced by the Kigalia Ranger Sta and an isolated Airstrip on Elk Ridge.

Ancestral Puebloan heritage is marked by several Cliff Dwellings tucked into canyon alcoves. The map also records early ranching and pioneering efforts through names like Mormon Flat and Hells Half Acre. Water management is critical in this arid environment, shown by scattered improvements such as Twin Springs and Maverick Spr, which supported livestock and the few inhabitants of this remote terrain.