2015 Map of Freighter Gap

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this high-desert portion of Sweetwater County, shaping a landscape defined by seasonal water sources and steep relief. Sparse but vital hydraulic features like Chicken Springs and Freighter Spring provided necessary stopovers for travelers in this arid region. The topography is marked by significant natural barriers and corridors, most notably the Freighter Gap and the sheer walls of Split Rock Canyon. These landforms dictate the passage of modern unpaved routes such as Bar X Rd and Cr 83, which trace the same paths used by earlier generations of ranchers and westward emigrants. Surveyed by the U.S. Geological Survey, the map documents the intersection of natural hydrology, including Jack Parnell Cr and Bush Cr, with the prominent escarpment of Bush Rim.