2010 Map of Indian Water Canyon

About this map

The Yampa River carves a dramatic path through this section of the high desert, defining the boundary and character of Dinosaur National Monument. The landscape is a network of deep drainage features and named landforms, from the evocative Vale of Tears and Thanksgiving Gorge to the heights of The Steps. Traces of early ranching and travel remain visible in the placement of Stubs Cabin and Spurgion Cabin, alongside the historic route of the Old Chuck Wagon Rd. This 2010 survey illustrates a region where modern recreation at Deerlodge Park and the Deerlodge Park Campground meets a primitive landscape of gulches and flats. The terrain is marked by significant features like Indian Water Canyon and Disappointment Draw, which tell the story of a challenging environment shaped by seasonal water and long-standing cattle-driving routes.