2020 Map of Hard Ground Flats

About this map

Hard Ground Flats dominates this portion of McKinley County, revealing a high-desert landscape defined by a complex network of ephemeral drainages and namesake mesas. The terrain is deeply incised by uniquely named features such as Mexican Cooking Canyon, Window Rock Canyon, and Peach Spring Canyon, which dictate the local travel routes. Navigation across this arid expanse is facilitated by a few primary arteries like Hard Ground Canyon Rd and the aptly named Wagon Trail Rd. In the southern reaches, the Puerco River provides the primary hydrological drainage point below the prominent Ram Mesa. This 2020 survey demonstrates the persistent isolation and topography of the Fort Defiance Agency area, where the spatial arrangement of roads like Red Water Pond Rd still follows the natural contours of the canyon floors and ridges.