1962 Map of Bluff

About this map

Bluff sits at the base of Tank Bench along the north bank of the San Juan River, serving as a focal point for this 1962 survey of San Juan County. The map documents a cultural landscape defined by ancestral and modern habitation, featuring numerous Cliff Dwellings and ruins preserved within the sandstone alcoves of Comb Ridge and Black Mesa. The presence of the Mormon Road and the St Christophers Mission highlights the region's pioneer and missionary history, while the Navajo Indian Reservation occupies the southern reach of the quadrangle across the river. Topographic details reveal a complex system of washes like Butler Wash and Cottonwood Wash that have carved the high mesas, creating distinct landmarks such as the Navajo Twins and The Horn. This era shows early industrial exploration through scattered drill holes and the existence of a remote Airstrip near the river.