2014 Map of Hellhole Bend

About this map

The Little Colorado River Gorge dominates this high-plateau landscape, carving a deep, serpentine path through the terrain as the Little Colorado River winds north toward its confluence with the Colorado River. The dramatic geological formations include Hellhole Bend and the sharp oxbow of Mule Shoe Bend, where the canyon walls drop precipitously from the surrounding flats. To the west, the Kaibab National Forest boundary meets the high desert, transitioning from the timbered reaches of the Upper Basin toward the starker topography of the Coconino Rim. Human infrastructure is sparse, defined by the modern corridor of Az-64 and traces of the Old Highway 64, reflecting the region's history as a transit corridor toward the Grand Canyon. Scattered water sources like Petroglyphs Tank and Smiley Tank serve as vital landmarks in this arid environment, while features like Saddle Horn Rock and Gray Mtn provide essential navigational reference points across the vast stretches of Lower Basin.