1979 Map of Bowdish Canyon

About this map

The Ute Mountain Indian Reservation occupies the eastern and southern portions of this landscape, where the high terrain of Hamilton Mesa drops toward the drainage of Mc Elmo Creek. This 1970s survey captures a network of canyons and mesas defined by livestock and early energy exploration, evidenced by various Jeep Trails and a documented Drill Hole. High points like Cannon Ball Mesa dominate the northwest, while the convergence of Hovenweep Canyon, Negro Canyon, and Yellow Jacket Canyon illustrates the complex erosion patterns that shape the Colorado high desert. The map shows a sparse industrial footprint limited to a single Gravel Pit near the creek, highlighting the rural, protected nature of the tribal lands and the open range common in the Four Corners region during this era.