Loading map...

1985 Map of Devil Mesa

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Devil Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Devil Mesa dominates the central landscape of this Utah quadrangle, a prominent high-ground feature defined by the deep erosion of the surrounding drainage systems. In the mid-1980s, the area remained a complex network of high points and branching drainages, including Dodge Point to the north and Alkali Point to the southwest. The hydrological pattern is defined by Montezuma Creek flowing through Montezuma Canyon, which receives numerous tributaries such as Pearson Canyon.

Evidence of resource exploration is visible through a scattered Prospect label, indicating the mineral interests that often drove activity in this part of San Juan County. The terrain is deeply incised by Long Canyon, Dodge Canyon, and Indian Canyon, illustrating a classic high-desert plateau environment where travel was dictated by the orientation of these natural corridors. This provisional survey captures the region just before modern digital mapping, preserving the intricate contour work of the era.