1886 Map of Escalante

About this map

Escalante serves as the primary gateway to the high plateaus and labyrinthine canyonlands of southern Utah in this reconnaissance survey. Situated at the edge of Potato Valley, the settlement is surrounded by massive geological features including the Aquarius Plateau to the north and the towering Straight Cliffs that define the eastern edge of the Kaiparowits Plateau. The map highlights the primitive hydrological network of the Escalante River and Paria River, documenting the terrain before the modern developments of the twentieth century. Along the southern border at the Utah Arizona Boundary Line, the survey marks The Crossing of the Fathers, a site of profound historical importance for early explorers and travelers navigating the Colorado River corridor. The inclusion of the Navajo Indian Res Line and the early boundaries of the Powell National Forest reflects the administrative organization of this remote landscape during the late nineteenth century.