1891 Map of Echo Cliffs

About this map

Lee Ferry serves as a critical point of orientation in this late nineteenth-century reconnaissance of Northern Arizona, marking the crossing where the Paria Canyon meets the Colorado River. The landscape is dominated by the massive drop-offs of the Vermilion Cliffs and the deep incisions of Marble Canyon, showing a region defined by its verticality and water scarcity long before modern infrastructure. To the south, the Mormon settlement at Tuba City and the nearby Hopi village of Moencopie represent the few established communities in the territory. The survey meticulously identifies vital water sources such as Navajo Spring, Bitter Spring, and Whitmore's Pools, which were essential for travel and survival across the Paria Plateau. Prominent landmarks like the Shinumo Altar and the sprawling Cedar Ridge help define the high-desert topography east of the river gorge.