2020 Map of Black Mesa Butte

About this map

Shumway Mines sit perched among the complex topography of the high desert, representing the enduring legacy of uranium and vanadium extraction in this corner of the Colorado Plateau. The landscape south of Blanding is defined by a series of dramatic mesas and drainages, where White Mesa and the prominent Black Mesa Butte overlook a network of ephemeral watercourses including Cottonwood Wash and Westwater Cr. This 2020 map documents the modern infrastructure of the region, from the winding path of Black Mesa Rd to the various county routes that provide access to more remote locations like Zekes Hole and Brushy Basin Rim. Researchers will note the evocative names given to the terrain, such as the Cheese and Raisins Hills, which speak to the local character and history of the land's exploration and naming by residents and surveyors.