1954 Map of Fable Valley

About this map

Cliff Dwellings and numerous unmarked ruins dot the high plateaus and canyon floors of this southeastern Utah landscape, indicating a long history of human presence before the mid-20th-century surveys. This 1950s mapping project, conducted in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission, highlights a rugged terrain defined by Beef Basin and the deep incisions of Dark Canyon. The presence of the Gooseberry Guard Sta and a Campground suggests the area's administration within the Manti-La Sal National Forest. Geologic and archaeological interests converge here, where features like Kirk Arch and Sweet Alice Spring provided vital landmarks and resources for those navigating the Sweet Alice Plateau. A network of Jeep Trails provides the primary means of traversing the mesa tops, connecting isolated points like House Park and Deadman Point across a landscape of sheer drops and hidden alcoves.