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1985 Map of Gila Box

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Gila Box
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The Gila River carves through a labyrinth of canyonlands at the border of Graham and Greenlee counties, revealing a landscape dominated by dramatic topographic relief and vital water catchments. The sharp bend at Camel Back Gila and the confluence with Eagle Creek highlight the importance of river corridors in this arid environment. To the north, the massive uplift of Turtle Mountain dictates the drainage patterns for numerous seasonal courses like Phillip Canyon and Bill Roy Canyon.

Evidence of local resource use and ranching history is found in the scattered infrastructure across the high ground, including Zorilla Tank, Coyote Tank, and Wire Corral Mesa. Small-scale excavations are noted at the Cinder Pit and various prospects along the western slopes of George Hill. The mapping of these features, alongside remote 4WD tracks, documents the mid-1980s state of this backcountry region before modern land-use changes.