1963 Map of Bowknot Bend

About this map

The Green River carves a serpentine path through this 1963 survey of Emery and Grand Counties, most notably at the dramatic hairpin turn of Bowknot Bend. This stretch of the river, deep in the Labyrinth Canyon region, shows the intersection of natural hydrology and early 20th-century resource extraction. The Hey Joe Mine is visible along the riverbank, linked by precarious jeep trails that weave through the canyon complex. To the west, the San Rafael Valley and Antelope Valley provide a stark contrast to the river corridors, characterized by numerous stock watering points such as Kirby Pond and Antelope Valley No 3 Res. The presence of Spring Canyon Ford and multiple named landing strips indicates how travelers negotiated this isolated terrain before modern infrastructure. Numerous family-named landmarks like Gruvers Wash and Tidwell Bottom suggest the history of local ranching and prospecting efforts.