1962 Map of Bluff

About this map

Bluff sits at the southern edge of this San Juan County landscape, positioned where the high desert plateaus drop toward the San Juan River. The 1960s geography is defined by immense geological formations like the striking Comb Ridge and the broad expanses of White Mesa and Black Mesa. Cultural history is deeply layered here, featuring the Mormon Road tracing a path through the sandstone and the St Christophers Mission established near the riverbanks. Numerous archaeological sites are documented throughout the canyons, specifically numerous cliff dwellings found within the alcoves of Butler Wash and Cottonwood Canyon. To the south, the boundary of the Navajo Indian Reservation begins across the river, near landmarks such as the Navajo Twins and the Navajo Spring. The map also captures local ranching life at the Decker Ranch and the isolated settlement at Stevens.