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2012 Map of Fishtail Mesa

Name: 2012 Topographic Map of Fishtail Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2012
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2012

About this map

The Colorado River carves a deep path through this portion of the Grand Canyon, dominated by the massive plateau of Fishtail Mesa. The river corridor itself is marked by significant navigational features including Fishtail Rapids and Doris Rapid, leading downstream toward the constricted passage of Granite Narrows. Along the canyon walls and side drainages, several ephemeral water sources are identified, such as Indian Hollow Spring, Hualapai Spring, and Vaughn Spring, which have historically been critical for any travel through this arid environment.

Vertical terrain is the defining characteristic, with notable landmarks like Keyhole Natural Bridge and Fishtail Point providing orientation above the deep incisions of Fishtail Canyon and Hundred and Forty Mile Canyon. The transition from the high elevations of Racetrack Knoll down to the river-level Deer Creek Falls illustrates the dramatic geological stacking of the region, including broad features like Tahuta Terrace and Olo Mesa.