2014 Map of Black Mesa Wash NW

About this map

Shonto Plateau dominates the northern reaches of this Navajo County landscape, where the high desert terrain is carved by the deep drainage of Shato Canyon and the expansive Klethla Valley. The topography here is defined by a series of critical water sources that would have been vital for local habitation and livestock, including Pat Williams Spring, Willow Spring, and the uniquely named Sheepskin Spring. Transport across this portion of the Navajo Nation is centered on the corridor of Us-160, which cuts diagonally across the plateau, while smaller routes like Bia-6620 provide access to the more interior reaches of the mesa. In the south, the land falls away toward the Coal Mine Wash and Black Mesa Wash, revealing a complex network of canyons and ridges near the distinctive Yellow Butte.