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2020 Map of Cathedral Mountain

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Cathedral Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

Capitol Reef National Park and Fishlake National Forest converge in this high-desert landscape, defined by dramatic geological formations and seasonal water sources. The map identifies iconic landforms such as Cathedral Mtn, Needle Mtn, and the collection of monoliths known as the Cathedrals. These features rise above the Middle Desert and Paradise Flats, illustrating the stark relief of the Colorado Plateau.

Hydrological features are sparse but critical to the area's history, including South Desert Spring and Ring Water Spring, which provide rare points of relief in a terrain otherwise carved by ephemeral drainages like Pierce Draw and Hartnet Draw. Notable geological anomalies like the Gypsum Sinkhole near the northern boundary indicate the unique subsurface processes at work. Access is limited to primitive routes such as Cathedral Road and Hartnet Road, which follow the natural contours of the desert floor.