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1959 Map of Black Canyon

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Black Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Colorado River navigation and desert hydrology define this 1950s era survey of the borderlands between Arizona and Nevada. The river corridor is a series of named water hazards, including Ringbolt Rapids and Roaring Rapids, highlighting the river's character before modern management. The settlement at Willow Beach serves as a primary human outpost, complete with a Fish Hatchery and Campground.

Elevation extremes dominate the landscape, from the high peak of Mount Wilson in the Black Mountains to the broad expanse of the Detrital Valley. Evidence of small-scale resource extraction is found at the Two Bs Mine near Housholder Pass. The map also captures the stark geography of the El Dorado Mountains and distinctive landmarks such as Monkey Rock and the Chalk Cliffs, providing a clear record of the region's physical features within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.