Loading map...

1954 Map of Elk Ridge 2 NW

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Elk Ridge 2 NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Beef Basin serves as the central focal point of this 1954 preliminary survey, where the convergence of deep drainage systems and high desert plateaus reveals a complex history of human habitation. The map identifies several archaeological sites, specifically noting Cliff Dwellings and various Ruins tucked into the protective alcoves of the canyon walls. These features provide a grounded record of the ancestral Puebloan presence in the region long before modern cartography.

The landscape is defined by dramatic elevation shifts, from the depths of Dark Canyon to the broad expanse of the Plateau. Water sources, though sparse, are precisely marked, including Table Spring and several unnamed Springs, which would have been critical lifelines for both the ancient inhabitants and the mid-century ranchers who used Beef Basin Wash for seasonal grazing. This document captures the wilderness of Gypsum Valley in a transitional state, just as aerial photogrammetry began to detail these once inaccessible reaches of San Juan County.