2020 Map of Big Bench

About this map

White Mesa stands at the heart of this high-desert landscape, where the plateau is deeply dissected by a network of drainage systems including Recapture Cr and Horse Creek. The map documents a sparsely populated region characterized by dramatic landforms such as Big Bench, McCracken Mesa, and Bluff Bench. These elevated features are separated by significant relief, notably the depths of Horse Canyon and Ute Canyon. Settlement is concentrated at White Mesa and the nearby Fiddlers Green, connected by a grid of rural and tribal roads like Indian Rte 404 and Hovenweep Rd. Water management in this arid environment is evidenced by the Horse Canyon Reservoir, while family-named landmarks such as Cowboy Pasture and Shumway Point reflect the ranching history of San Juan County.