Loading map...

1953 Map of Fiddler Butte

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Fiddler Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The Dirty Devil River winds through a deeply incised landscape in this mid-century survey of the Wayne and Garfield County line. The geography is characterized by high, isolated plateaus such as Sams Mesa and Bert Mesa, which are separated from the surrounding lowlands by dramatic topographic drops. Human presence is sparse, marked primarily by a landing strip near The Big Ridge and a prospect site located near Poison Spring Canyon, reflecting the era's mineral exploration interests which involved the Atomic Energy Commission.

Water sources are critical landmarks in this arid environment, with Sams Mesa Spring, Two Pipe Springs, and a lone reservoir in the Burr Desert providing essential relief. Named landmarks like Fiddler Butte and The Pinnacle serve as primary navigational anchors. The complex drainage network of Hatch Canyon and Butler Canyon illustrates the intricate erosion patterns typical of this portion of the Colorado Plateau.