2017 Map of Desert

About this map

Desert serves as the central point of interest in this 2017 survey of the arid Utah landscape, situated where the Moab to Boulder Town route traverses the high desert floor. The geography is defined by the dramatic rise of the Book Cliffs to the northeast, where the elevation climbs sharply toward Mid Mtn and the mouth of Blue Castle Canyon. The map reveals a network of historical transportation routes, including the Smith Camp RR Grade and the Buckmaster Rd, which cut through the southern reaches near the Gunnison Valley. Water remains a vital but scarce feature in this terrain, marked primarily by isolated points like Trail Spring. The survey provides a clear view of how modern transit lines follow established pathways through the rugged topography of Emery County.