2014 Map of Fishtail Mesa

About this map

Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park converge in this high-desert landscape, dominated by the massive plateau of Fishtail Mesa. The geography is defined by extreme verticality, where the Colorado River carves through the Granite Narrows and creates the powerful white water of Fishtail Rapids and Doris Rapid. The drainage patterns are ancient and complex, with Fishtail Canyon and Hundred and Forty Mile Canyon cutting deep fissures into the earth. For those studying the hydrology of the plateau, the presence of isolated water sources like Indian Hollow Spring, Deer Spring, and Vaughn Spring indicates the critical points of survival in this arid environment. Significant landmarks such as Keyhole Natural Bridge and the cascading Deer Creek Falls highlight the unique erosional forces at work on the edge of Tahuta Terrace and Olo Mesa.