1985 Map of Bitter Springs

About this map

Marble Canyon and the Colorado River carve a deep physical boundary through this landscape, marking the transition between Grand Canyon National Park and the Navajo Indian Reservation. This mid-1980s survey captures a high-desert environment defined by extreme relief, where the steep rise of the Echo Cliffs looms over Little Valley to the east. Along the river, specialized navigation points like Soap Creek Rapids, Sheer Wall Rapids, and Browns Riffle indicate the treacherous nature of the watercourse. Settlement is concentrated at Bitter Springs, where a Landing Strip and the route of Highway 89 provide essential infrastructure. Indigenous place names and land features such as Lii'gan Dah Sizini and Hanna Nimadzidzahi Wash reveal the cultural geography of the Navajo lands that occupy the eastern half of the map.