2010 Map of Big Bench

About this map

White Mesa dominates the western portion of this San Juan County landscape, providing a high-ground foundation for the settlement of White Mesa. This desert plateau region is defined by deep incisions and drainage patterns, specifically those of Recapture Creek and Horse Creek, which carve through the arid terrain. The map captures a moment of modern land management in an ancient landscape, where infrastructure like the Horse Canyon Reservoir and designated grazing areas such as Cowboy Pasture highlight the agricultural adaptation of the high desert. To the east, the terrain rises toward Shumway Point and the broad expanses of McCRACKEN MESA. The road network, including Indian Rte 204 and Adams RD, provides the primary connective tissue between these remote points, following the natural contours of the benches and canyons.