Loading map...

2017 Map of Blue Castle Butte

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Blue Castle Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Green River flows through the southeastern portion of this landscape, marking a vital water source in the arid geography where Emery and Grand counties meet. The terrain is defined by dramatic geological formations, including the prominent Blue Castle Butte, Battleship Butte, and the Book Cliffs escarpment. These features overlook the Gunnison Valley, providing a sense of the scale and topographical complexity of the region.

Evidence of local history is found near the river, where the settlement of Hastings and the Elgin Cem are located. This area served as a critical corridor for travel and ranching, with routes like Hastings Rd following the drainage of Tusher Wash. The map also details the high mesas such as Calf Mesa and Little Elliott Mesa, which rise above the surrounding canyons and washes, illustrating the stark verticality of the Utah desert landscape in the early 21st century.