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1983 Map of Big Bend Draw

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Big Bend Draw
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Muddy Creek carves a sharp oxbow at The Big Bend in this southern portion of the San Rafael Swell area. This high desert terrain is defined by a complex network of intermittent drainages including Whiskey Wash, Bitter Wash, and Mulligan Wash that feed into the larger canyon systems. Geologic features such as The Dike and the broad plateau of Reed Mesa dominate the topography, interspersed with small water sources critical to the region, such as Chris Pond and Clyde and Neils Pond.

The landscape is crossed by a sparse network of jeep trails and unimproved paths, indicating the limited human footprint in this corner of Emery County during the early 1980s. Natural landmarks like Tea Brush Flat and the Lone Tree Wedge serve as orienting points amidst the deep incisions of Devils Canyon and Kimball Draw. The presence of several seep locations, including Lower Kimball Seep and Upper Kimball Seep, highlights the importance of these rare water points for livestock or local travel through the arid washes.