2011 Map of Fossil Bay

About this map

The Colorado River carves through the southeastern corner of this Coconino County landscape, where the turbulent Fossil Rapids define the river's path through the deep incision of Fossil Canyon. This 2011 survey documents a geography of stark verticality, characterized by massive high-elevation features like Great Thumb Mesa and a series of named promontories including Bear Headland, Kangaroo Headland, and Panameta Point. The land is tiered by significant geological benches such as Gatagama Terrace in the north and Alarcon Terrace in the south, suggesting the ancient erosional history of the canyon systems. Aside from the primary watercourse, the interior is dominated by a complex network of ephemeral drainages that feed into Fossil Bay, a large topographic depression. Notable landmarks like Enfilade Point and Stanton Point provide specific reference points for navigating this unpopulated and primitive terrain in the northern Arizona wilderness.