1886 Map of Escalante

About this map

Escalante and Paria stand as the primary outposts of human habitation in this late 19th-century reconnaissance of Southern Utah. Surveyed by the Powell Survey, the map documents the intricate drainage systems and massive geological formations of Garfield and Kane counties. The landscape is dominated by high-altitude features like the Aquarius Plateau and the Kaiparowits Plateau, which are dissected by numerous waterways including Birch Creek, Mamie Creek, and Boulder Creek. One of the most historically significant markers is The Crossing of the Fathers on the lower reaches of the Paria River, a vital historical transit point before modern infrastructure. The map also delineates the northern extent of the Navajo Indian Res. Line near the Utah Arizona Boundary Line, capturing the frontier character of the region as it was systematically documented for the first time.