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2012 Map of Desert View

Name: 2012 Topographic Map of Desert View
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2012
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2012

About this map

Grand Canyon National Park defines this landscape, where the Colorado River carves through ancient stone beneath the Palisades of the Desert. The map centers on the developed area of Desert View, a key waypoint for visitors that includes the Desert View Campground and high-elevation overlooks like Navajo Point and Lipan Point. The geography is a complex network of side canyons and washes, including Tanner Canyon and Deer Tank Wash, leading down toward the river's edge at Unkar Creek Rapids.

Evidence of early and modern activity is visible in the placement of Yampas Village and the infrastructure for the Desert View Wastewater Lagoons. This 2012 survey documents the plateau before the river's descent, featuring prominent landmarks such as the isolated Cedar Mountain and Espejo Butte. The area is accessible via a series of Forest Service roads that navigate the rim and provide access to the vast geologic features like Cardenas Butte and the Basalt Cliffs.