2018 Map of Fort Defiance

About this map

Black Creek Valley sits at the geological intersection of the Chuska Mountains and the Defiance Plateau, spanning the state line between Apache County, Arizona, and McKinley County, New Mexico. The landscape is defined by a complex drainage system, where Black Creek and Bonito Cr are joined by numerous ephemeral channels such as Twin Buttes Wash, Meadow Wash, and White Clay Spring Wash. This 2018 survey reveals a network of tribal and local routes, including Indian Rte 112 and Kit Carson Dr, providing access to isolated water sources like Bonito Spring. The geography shows a transition from the higher elevations of the plateau down into Bonito Canyon, highlighting the importance of seasonal water flow to the local topography and settlement patterns in this part of the Navajo Nation.