Loading map...

2017 Map of Mexican Mountain

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Mexican Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Mexican Mountain and the dramatic geologic formations of the San Rafael Reef dominate this desert landscape in eastern Utah. The San Rafael River carves a deep path through the terrain, creating the sharp turn known as Mexican Bend and the narrow canyon of the Black Box. This area is marked by its isolation and the deep incisions of washes and draws, such as Cottonwood Wash and Tidwell Draw, which slice through the uplifted rock layers.

Industrial and transport history is etched into the earth here, notably through early engineering efforts like the S Calf Mesa RR Grade and the Smith Camp RR Grade. These abandoned railroad grades, along with Smith Camp Rd, point to an era when miners or ranchers attempted to traverse this formidable geography. Large plateaus such as Calf Mesa and the plateau named Horse Heaven stand as landmarks in a territory defined by canyons and seasonal drainages.