1987 Map of Mikes Mesa

About this map

Lake Powell dominates the southern landscape of this 1980s canyonland survey, where the rising waters met the ancient course of the San Juan River. This transition point is marked by the Clay Hills Crossing, a traditional river access point now influenced by the reservoir's reach within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. To the south, the boundary of the Navajo Indian Reservation follows the river's path, separating tribal lands from the complex topography of the Clay Hills and Red House Cliffs. The map illustrates a high-desert environment defined by drainage systems like Mikes Canyon and Castle Canyon that carve through Mikes Mesa. Rare water sources, such as Rock Spring, are noted amidst the high relief, providing critical context for the cattle ranching and exploration history of San Juan County.