2021 Map of Chinde Mesa

About this map

Petrified Forest National Park occupies the southern half of this landscape, where the high desert terrain transitions into the prominent Chinde Mesa. This geological feature dominates the central portion of the map, rising above a network of seasonal drainage systems that have carved the arid soil. The most significant of these waterways is Wide Ruin Wash, which meanders across the northern reaches, joined by Leroux Wash in the northwest. To the south, within the national park boundaries, the land is etched by Digger Wash and Lithodendron Wash. This 2021 study documents the intersection of protected federal lands and the Navajo Co Apache Co boundary, illustrating a remote portion of the Colorado Plateau characterized by significant elevation changes and deep alluvial washes.