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1996 Map of Little Wild Horse Mesa

Name: 1996 Topographic Map of Little Wild Horse Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2002
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2002

About this map

Little Wild Horse Mesa and the surrounding high desert plateaus dominate this landscape at the turn of the 21st century. The terrain is defined by a complex network of deep incisions, including Cistern Canyon, Bell Canyon, and the winding Wild Horse Canyon. These drainage patterns carve through the San Rafael Reef and into the broader Sinbad Country, creating a geography where travel is dictated by the natural breaks in the stone.

Evidence of modern exploration and ranching access appears through scattered 4wd tracks that navigate between Middle Wild Horse Mesa and Big Wild Horse Mesa. To the southwest, Muddy Creek cuts across the boundary between Emery Co and Wayne Co, marking the transition toward more open watercourses. This survey illustrates the isolation of the mesa system before digital mapping fully standardized the backcountry routes of the San Rafael Swell.