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1955 Map of Blue Spring

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Blue Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The Little Colorado River carves a deep path through Coconino County, defining the western edge of the Navajo Indian Reservation. This mid-century survey documents the dramatic descent of the Little Colorado River Gorge and its convergence with complex drainage systems like Big Navajo Canyon and Salt Trail Canyon. The presence of Blue Spring provides a vital focal point in a landscape otherwise defined by arid washes like Sheep Wash and Dry Wash.

Transitioning from the heights of the Red Point Hills toward the floor of the Painted Desert, the terrain is marked by remote surveying points such as Black Rock VABM 5773 and Gold Hill. The map traces the historic Salt Trail, a critical route through the canyon system that predates modern development. Small pockets of Kaibab Nat Forest appear along the western boundary, highlighting the intersection of federal and tribal lands during this era of topographical mapping.