1985 Map of Blue Chief Mesa

About this map

The Dolores River cuts a deep, winding path through this corner of Grand County, Utah, creating a landscape defined by towering plateaus and canyon floors. Along the river banks, Utah Bottoms represents a rare stretch of relatively level ground, while a solitary Gaging Station and a single Bridge mark the limited points of human utility along the water. The surrounding high ground, including Buckhorn Mesa and Blue Chief Mesa, contains evidence of mid-20th-century mineral exploration. Scattered across the mesas and canyons like Cottonwood Canyon are numerous Prospects, Adits, and even a documented Mine Shaft, signaling the region's history of uranium and vanadium prospecting. This 1980s-era field check documents the intersection of this industrial exploration with the complex drainage systems of Buckhorn Draw and Granite Creek.