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1985 Map of Fable Valley

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Fable Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Beef Basin serves as the central focal point of this 1985 survey, revealing a landscape defined by deep erosional patterns and isolated water sources in a remote section of San Juan County. The drainage network is particularly prominent, featuring Beef Basin Wash and numerous named canyons such as Ruin Canyon and Gypsum Canyon that carve through the high desert. Settlement is absent here, replaced by specialized topographical markers like House Park Butte and the sprawling Dark Canyon Plateau.

Strategic water points, essential for both livestock and early travelers, are noted throughout the terrain, including Moki Spring, Wild Cow Spring, and Stanley Spring. The southeastern portion of the map transitions into the Manti-La Sal National Forest, where the Sweet Alice Hills rise above the surrounding valleys. The placement of these features suggests a history of cattle ranching and seasonal grazing, where access to the Fable Valley was dictated by the availability of scattered springs.