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2023 Map of Bitter Creek Divide

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Bitter Creek Divide
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Capitol Reef National Park dominates this portion of the Colorado Plateau, where the massive monocline of the Water Pocket Fold creates a stark geological boundary. This 2023 survey illustrates the complex drainage systems that define the area, including Halls Creek and Bitter Creek, which carve deep into the sandstone layers. The landscape is characterized by high, flat-topped features like Tarantula Mesa and Swap Mesa, contrasted with the intricate branching of Grand Gulch and Muley Twist Canyon.

Evidence of early transit and backcountry access is visible through the Burr Trl and the Upper Muley Twist Trl, routes that follow the natural contours of the reef. Finer details such as Onion Flats Seep and the fossil-rich Oyster Shell Reef provide specific points of interest for those studying the unique desert hydrology and geology of the Circle Cliffs region. The map captures the remote character of Bitter Creek Divide as it appeared in the early 21st century.