2010 Map of Bluff NW

About this map

Comb Ridge dominates the eastern portion of this San Juan County landscape, creating a massive natural barrier that has long dictated travel routes through the high desert. The map illustrates a network of primitive roads and drainage systems that define the area's geography, including the winding course of Comb Wash and the stark elevation changes at The Twist. This 2010 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey captures the intricate drainage patterns of Fish Creek and Dry Wash as they carve through the plateau. Local transport is represented by backcountry routes such as Bailey S Lower Rd and Comb Wash Rd, which follow the contours of the land. For researchers of the American Southwest, the map provides a clear look at the relationship between the formidable monocline of the ridge and the accessible corridors of Snow Flat and Stevens Canyon.