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1966 Map of Joes Valley Reservoir

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Joes Valley Reservoir
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

Joes Valley Reservoir dominates the high-altitude landscape of this mid-1960s survey, straddling the boundary between Sanpete and Emery counties. Situated within the Manti-La Sal National Forest, the reservoir features an Intake Tower and Boat Ramp, serving as a focal point for the surrounding canyonlands. The map reveals a high-country infrastructure of trails and seasonal outposts, including the Orange Olsen Administrative Site and the nearby Seely Creek Campground.

Evidence of ranching and early water management is found across the plateaus, with features like Olsen Ranch, Academy Mill Reservoir, and Grass Flat Reservoir dotting the terrain. Complex topography is navigated via Reeder Canyon Trail and a series of tight turns known as The Switchbacks. To the west, Wagon Road Ridge and Olsen Bench illustrate the flat-topped geography characteristic of this part of the Wasatch Plateau, while numerous small water bodies such as Blue Lake and Grassy Lake provide insight into the local hydrology before modern developments altered these drainages.