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2021 Map of Elwood Canyon

Name: 2021 Topographic Map of Elwood Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2021
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2021

About this map

The Black River serves as the primary geographic corridor through this landscape, carving through complex terrain along the boundary between Graham and Navajo counties. This 2021 survey illustrates a region defined by dramatic elevation changes, from the depths of Bloody Basin Canyon and Elwood Canyon to the broad expanse of the Natanes Plateau. The area is characterized by an extensive system of drainages, including Sawmill Cr and Big Bonito Creek, which converge in this high country.

Water management is central to the human footprint here, as evidenced by a network of tanks scattered across the plateau and canyons. Named features like Rocky Basin Tank Number One, Mudhole Tank, and Prairie Pit Tank suggest a landscape managed for cattle or wildlife, connected by remote routes such as Co RD 1553. The mapping details how these water sources are strategically placed near canyon breaks like Mud Spring Canyon, providing a clear view of the logistical patterns required to inhabit this part of the Arizona wilderness.