2023 Map of Bowknot Bend

About this map

The Green River carves a massive, looping oxbow through the desert landscape, creating the signature Bowknot Bend where the river nearly doubles back on itself. This modern survey illustrates the dramatic elevation changes between the river bottoms and the high mesas, separated by steep walls in Labyrinth Canyon. The map documents numerous named "bottoms"—the relatively flat, low-lying ground inside the river's meanders—including Oak Bottom, Woodruff Bottom, and Tidwell Bottom. These areas have historically served as critical access points to the river's water in an otherwise arid environment.