1987 Map of Black Steer Canyon

About this map

Black Steer Canyon and its complex network of tributary drainages dominate this 1987 provisional study of San Juan County, Utah. The landscape is defined by deep incisions through the high plateaus, including Youngs Canyon and Lost Canyon, which converge toward the Dark Canyon Wilderness. These natural barriers shaped the movement of early travelers and livestock, as seen in the isolated stretches of Lower Horse Flats and Upper Horse Flats that break the otherwise jagged terrain. While most of the area is protected within the Manti-La Sal National Forest, the map also documents an Indefinite Boundary along the eastern edge, highlighting the ongoing challenges of surveying this intricate canyon system. The high vantage of Black Point provides the central orientation for this part of the Colorado Plateau.