Loading map...

1988 Map of King Arthur Castle

Name: 1988 Topographic Map of King Arthur Castle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

King Arthur Castle and the surrounding high-altitude plateaus dominate this 1980s topograhic study of the Arizona backcountry. The landscape is defined by its extreme verticality, where the Powell Plateau and Rainbow Plateau give way to deep chasms such as Merlin Abyss and Modred Abyss. The naming convention of the era is on full display here, with mythological and Arthurian titles bestowed upon prominent landforms like the Holy Grail Temple, Masonic Temple, and Elaine Castle.

Hydrological features are sparse but critical in this arid environment, marked by isolated points like South Big Spring and Powell Spring. The map documents the northern reaches of Grand Canyon National Park and the adjacent Kaibab National Forest, showing the primitive transportation network through the area including the Rainbow Plateau Trail. The intricate contour lines illustrate the complex drainage patterns of Shinumo Creek as it carves through the Shinumo Amphitheater.