1886 Map of Echo Cliffs

About this map

Lee Ferry serves as the critical crossing point where the Colorado River separates the Paria Plateau from the rising Echo Cliffs in this northern Arizona territory. Surveyed under J.W. Powell, the landscape is defined by vast geological formations and the strategic placement of water sources in an arid environment. The map details a network of springs and tanks essential for travel and early settlement, including Navajo Spring, Bitter Spring, and Jacobs Pools along the base of the Vermilion Cliffs. To the south, the Mormon settlement of Tuba City and the Hopi village of Moencopie are situated near the Moencopie Wash, illustrating the convergence of indigenous and pioneer geography. The sheer verticality of the region is captured through the depths of Marble Canon and the prominent Shinumo Altar, marking a period before modern infrastructure altered these remote corridors.